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on the cover A song sparrow perches on a flowering branch. Photo by Janet Argenta

this month A P R I L

2 0 2 3

SPRINGTIME AT THE ARBORETUM

EARTH DAY OFFERS CHANCE TO GIVE BACK

The 750 acres of natural landscape at Connecticut College are about to burst to life

Cleanups, events planned throughout region in April & beyond photo by Janet Argenta

7 Correction

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

9 Culture for the “common man” Finding community, a place to call home, at the nonprofit Hygienic Art

PEOPLE & PLACES

15 Heart to Heart and Always Home Honoring Betty and Bill Smith’s work to fight family homelessness

18 Ballgame breakdown

Podcast hosts talk all things MLB, make predictions for 2023 season

TASTE

49 Connecticut-born actors

and where to watch them 50 Turning pages

One good book leads to another: The beauty of discovering an author with multiple works

52 Local finds

Shop unique. Shop local.

LIFE CYCLES

55 Miracles at play

Accessible ball field in East Lyme is a whole lot more than fun and games

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23 Not your typical home ec class

61 Hands-on Art

28 Restaurant listings

64 Weekending at the Cape

NFA’s student-run restaurant is a hidden culinary gem open to the public

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31 Birds, bees and butterflies

Lyme Pollinator Pathway part of national movement to boost insect habitat, improve ecosystem

TRENDING

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At Florence Griswold Museum, discovering your own creative side is part of the visit From sunsets to hikes to clam shacks: Some travel tips for a springtime visit

INTERVIEW

71 Amy Hannum

New London-based artist, designer and Reiki practitioner

correction

Two photos that appeared in the February story, “Heroes in Our Backyard,” about the sites on New London’s Black Heritage Trail were misidentified. The photos appear below with the correct identifying information. We apologize for the error:

Because Experience Matters Popular Inspections

Shiloh Baptist Church, 1 Garvin Street, is New London’s oldest historically Black church, founded in 1894. This photo shows the Rev. Albert A. Garvin Sr. in 1959. P hoto courtesy Aneesah Ahmad

The Linwood Bland Jr. Home, 23 Franklin Street, is the site of the former home of civil rights leader Linwood Bland Jr. Bland, center, is pictured here at the New London NAACP Black History program in 1963. Photo courtesy Aneesah Ahmad

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in the spotlight E N T E R TA I N M E N T

C U LT U R E

New London. p hoto by Christy Wenzel

ARTS

artists find home base at the Hygienic

magazine

Culture for the “common man” FINDING COMMUNITY, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, AT THE NONPROFIT HYGIENIC ART

One of the artist-in-residence studios at Hygienic Art, which offers living spaces for emerging artists above the New London galleries on Bank Street. Photo courtesy of Hygienic Art

By Kerry Kincy

he Hygienic is its own “site specific” work of art. As you walk along the sidewalk to the 1844 building on Bank and Golden streets in the heart of downtown New London, you’re hugged by rich architecture, art and history. You become a participant in a sort of dialogue that moves through the unique, peculiar and sometimes agitational vibe the space possesses. The gates to the Hygienic’s outdoor plaza lead you in and your eyes continue up to the massive mural of caryatids. The neoclassical building, a structure that took upwards of 200 years to evolve to its current

state, has held on to the richness of the people who frequented it. Historically, the 24-hour Hygienic Restaurant in the former Hygienic Delicatessen was the hub in the 1960s for local artists, sailors and street people. Some called it “seedy.” You can sense the townies sitting around the tables and the handful of regulars at the counters, which still hold the impressions of elbows on Formica. Upstairs, there were rooms for rent. President Roosevelt and Al Capone were both said to have dined at the Hygienic Restaurant, and the painter Barkley Hendricks was rumored to have

april 2023 9

Rachel Kuhn DameFK

Nicki

Stephanie

Gerald

Bonanno

in the spotlight

above Members of Hygienic Art’s Artist Collective have the opportunity to explore their skills, gain feedback and expand their professional network while living and creating at Hygienic. p hotos courtesy of Hygienic Art / Vincent Scarano / Alexander Alvarez below The Hygienic building on the corner of Bank and Golden streets in downtown New London once housed the 24-hour Hygienic Restaurant, serving boarders, sailors and night owls. photo courtesy of Hygienic Art

frequented it with his camera in tow, after capturing some of his most beautiful work while teaching at Connecticut College. (The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is organizing the exhibition, Barkley L. Hendricks, in New London, opening in May. Look for a story on Hendricks and the Lyman Allyn exhibit in an upcoming issue of TDM.) The tradition of rented rooms at Hygienic continues to this day as artists—instead of sailors and night workers—now occupy the living spaces above the restaurant. “The intention is to provide affordable working studio spaces for artists to continue to create without the challenges gentrification has brought to rental spaces downtown,” said Hygienic President Vincent Scarano. In the early 1980s, against the vista of decaying buildings that were left abandoned on Bank Street and destined to be torn down, petitions and protests brought a lot of attention to the block with the passionate desire to save these historic landmarks. Artists and community members in the 1990s, working with developers committed to this preservation, learned the skills of organizing, lobbying, financing and

magazine

Meredith Doyen

Rebecca Fowke

building management. Together with grant awards, neighborhood fundraising efforts and sponsorships from the arts community, they were able to incorporate as the nonprofit Hygienic Arts. Inc., and what was a vision became an actuality—a worldclass space with old-world charm supporting the newest, most “now” artists in the region. An artist and photographer, Scarano has been heading up the refinement of this space since its inception. Under his leadership, the Hygienic Artist Collective has renovated the rooms into six unique one-bedroom working studios that house artist members. Two of the studios are lofted, bringing in a southern exposure that affords the perfect view of the mouth of the Thames River just across the street. “This has been a really great opportunity to build my craft,” says DameFK, a performance artist and currently an artist-in-residence. “The encouragement and support between all of us artists-in-residence has been invaluable.” Over the decades, the artists have made these spaces their own. Hygienic reclaimed a derelict

april 2023 11

in the spotlight

above Behind the Hygienic Art building, a once-dark corner was transformed into the Garden of Hygienia, a sculpture garden with wrought-iron fences, red brick pathways, lampposts and seating. photo courtesy of Hygienic Art right This 30- by 50-foot mural was painted by Hygienic artists in 1999 and is a focal point in what would become Hygienic’s Art Park, which is open to the public during the day and during gallery hours. photo courtesy of Hygienic Art

lot behind the building on Golden Street, turning the Today, the artists residing at the Hygienic are the dark corner into the Garden of Hygienia, a sculpture emerging visionaries in a different world. Under the garden and public art space, in the early 2000s. It has guidance of Hygienic Director Sara Tyler-Connolly and since been expanded to include an outdoor theater and her team, these artists aspire to carry the tradition of the performance space. residents that came before them. Past artists-in-residence include Jenn Collins, who “We provide opportunities such as solo and group art arrived as a graduate from Connecticut College. She shows, performances, connecting artists with interndesigned and installed all of the Moroccan reliefs in ships and grant opportunities,” said Tyler-Connolly. “As the restoration of the Garde director, I try to be availA r ts Center, housed in a able as a resource, soundreclaimed movie palace in ing board and advocate for New London. She now has the artists at the Hygienic. I her studio in San Francisco. love being part of a supportTate Pray, a Mystic emergive artistic community.” ing artist, learned to be a For decades, The Hygienic professional artist at the has held a community exhibiHygienic and enrolled in the tion fashioned after the Salon DAMEFK Lyme Academy. After gradudes Indépendants, a Paris citating, Pray became a successful fine artist and now lives izens art movement in the late 19th century that introduced in North Carolina. Impressionism to the world. Navada Swan is a jewelry and Native American bead“The whole idea was that we wanted to make a place work artist. She founded the Empress Art Galler y that was available for the common man,” Scarano told in New London while in residence. She now lives in The Day in 2018 of the exhibit’s origins. “The idea was, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and leads the Onyxswan if you put fine art in an environment where people see it Gallery featuring her work. every day, people would appreciate it. So we picked the

“This has been a really great opportunity to build my craft.”

magazine

Hygienic Restaurant as the place where the common man would come in. There was a reason why we didn’t want to pick a gallery. It was an art education for the masses. It was all about the military, industrial, blue-collar people that live in this area. It was for them to experience art, too.” The Hygienic doesn’t curate the show. In salon style, the show is designed to feature one self-selected piece by anyone brave enough to hang their work on the walls. The work is whimsical, provocative, evocative, raw, inspired and most importantly, varied—and it’s all for sale. The Hygienic is a coterie that turned into a collective symbol of preservation. Classic meets contemporary— from the antique coffee brewers to the exploratory tableaus, to Scarano, himself, moving effortlessly between the two and continuing to rouse support for the idea that the future of art is at the intersection of progressive ideas and the formal spaces that contain them. Kerry Kincy is an artist and a core faculty member with New Haven Ballet who leads the Shared Abilities Program. She is founder and director of Free Center Middletown, a recipient of a Connecticut Arts Hero Award by the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and a community fellow in the Wesleyan University Embodying Anti-Racism initiative.

The Hygienic’s Underground Gallery during a recent art show. photo courtesy of Hygienic Art

CHECK OUT THE HYGIENIC

THE HYGIENIC EGG: Sunday April 2,

EARTH DAY ART PARK CLEANUP, Sunday,

12:30–2 p.m. Marya from the Dragon’s Egg Studio

April 23, 12–3 p.m., annual Art Park and gardens

presents a promenade-style theater featuring

cleanup party, beer and pizza will be served!

performances on the theme of the life and times

WANDERING UTERUS GROUP ART EXHIBITION,

of poet Auder. Staged performances via dance, movement, puppetry, poetry, music will be performed throughout Hygienic Art’s four galleries. Donations are accepted. OPEN MIC NIGHT: Thursday, April 6, 5:30–7 p.m. An evening of comedy, music and spoken word. Sign up at 5–5:30 space permitting.

April 29–May 20, opening reception, Saturday, April 29, 6–9 p.m., featuring seven Connecticut women using different mediums. LAND AND SEA: ABSTRACTS OF THE IMAGINATION, May 27–June 17, opening reception Saturday, May 27, 6–9 p.m., elements are the inspiration for these 16 artists from the Connecticut

THE CROSSING EXHIBITION, through April 22,

River Valley.

annual juried show.

Log on to Hygienic.org or Hygienic Art on Facebook or

CRAFTS & COCKTAILS, Thursday, April 20,

Instagram for more information

5–7 p.m., a creative crafting event featuring creative cocktails and functional art-making. Art supplies and first drink provided. $10 april 2023 13

people & places PEOPLE

PROFILES

FINANCE

N E W & N O TA B L E

Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford. photo by Chris Dixon

BUSINESS

home is where the heart is for the Smiths

magazine

out of the park podcast

Heart to Heart and Always Home HONORING BETTY AND BILL SMITH’S WORK TO FIGHT FAMILY HOMELESSNESS By Cris Cadiz

wo Smiths are better than one! Tricia Cunningham, executive director of the nonprofit Always Home, would wholeheartedly agree. For years, the Smiths—Betty and Bill Smith from Groton—have served in various positions for the Mystic-based agency, which works to fight family homelessness, and the couple has helped hundreds of local families put roofs over their heads. Always Home will honor the Smiths at its annual fundraising Heart to Heart Gala this month as the organization also celebrates 25 years.

“Both as individuals and together, the Smiths have ensured the growth and success of Always Home,” says Cunningham. “I have seen first hand the positive impacts they have made and am grateful that we have this opportunity to honor them for their unwavering support.” The Smiths are a well-known dynamic duo of community service in the region. After living in San Diego for more than a decade, they returned to Bill’s hometown of Groton in 2011. Cunningham was then leading the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and recalls, “Bill came to see me, wanting

Bill and Betty Smith. photo by Glenn Gentile

april 2023 15

people & places to get involved and make a difference process to guide the organization’s longto Groton, t hey k new t hat despite for the better.” The Smiths became term success—in addition to the highly coastal Connecticut’s wealthy reputaactive in many local and civic organizaeffective rebranding effort. Both Smiths tion, too many people live paycheck to tions including the Chamber, Denison used their positive energy, talents and paycheck. Illness, loss of transportaPequotsepos Nature Center, the Rotary broad com mun ity network to help tion, lack of childcare and other dilemClub, local government and others. Always Home with its mission to supmas leave many families just one step Of the honor, the Smiths say they are port families and children experiencing away from homelessness. Consequences humbled and give great credit to “the homelessness. for children without stable homes are fantastic staff” at Always Home, which “Homelessness is a huge problem numerous, from physical and emotional was founded in 1998 as Mystic Area that doesn’t have one answer,” says well-being to problems in school. Shelter and Hospitality by the Rev. Dr. Betty. While living on the West Coast, “For me it’s the kids that matter,” says G. Kenneth Carpenter, Union Baptist the Smiths witnessed the highly visiBetty with emotion, as she recalls one famChurch’s then-minister. ble scourge of homelessness. Returning ily that was living in a tent. The mother Betty began volunteering for finally reached out to Always A lways Home in 2014 as the Home when she returned from Heart to Heart Gala chair, growwork to find her child completely ing the fundraising success of covered in mosquito bites. She the event year after year. knew they couldn’t live like that. Bill joined the board of direc“Homelessness has a long-term tors in 2014 , ser ving for six impact on the kids, who are innoBETTY SMITH years, including two and a half cent in all of this,” Betty asserts. years as president. Betty joined “That is what drew me and my the board in 2017 and became heart to Always Home.” executive director of Always Bill also appreciates Always Home in 2019. Home’s focus on families and “With v ision, passion and the organization’s preemptive dedication, the Smiths led our strategies. organization through a rebrand“Who is the most vulnerable ing, including introduction of population? How can we make our new name, Always Home,” quality of life better for everysays Cunningham. “During a one? When children are homeleadership change, Betty was less,” says Bill, “it’s more likely asked to serve as interim directhey will become homeless as tor and the board quickly realadults. How do you break that ized what an asset she was and multigenerational chain?” asked her to serve as executive From engaging with social director.” workers and learning about As executive director, Betty local resources, to getting help helped Always Home increase with security deposits, childits visibility in the area, expand care or transportation, Always its outreach and cooperation Home clients are encouraged to with other social services, and be self-sufficient and indepengrow its funding and budget dent—not to rely on emergency through grants and donations. shelters after they are in trouble. Bill’s 30-year corporate career “In 2014 we served 71 famhelped him lead Always Home ilies; in 2020 it was up to 306 One of the 71 families that received support from Always Home in through a strategic planning families,” says Bill. “That’s a 2014. By 2020, the number of families served had jumped to 306.

“For me it’s the kids that matter.”

Photo courtesy of Always Home

magazine

Tricia Cunningham, executive director of Always Home. photo courtesy of Always home

bittersweet number. You’re helping four times as many families, but wouldn’t it be great to end the problem? No one’s found a solution, but our approach is to keep people out of shelters and help them find stable homes.” The Heart to Heart Gala is scheduled for April 21, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa and includes a threecourse dinner, open bar, live and silent auctions, music and dancing. For more information or to support Always Home, visit alwayshome.org. Freelance writer Cris Cadiz enjoys sharing journeys and dreams of people she meets and places she treasures, near and abroad. As a tourism writer, she cheerleads for noteworthy people, organizations and small businesses throughout New England. Read more work at chanticleermedia.com/journalism.

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people & places

By Anthony Pioppi

n opening day of the 2021 Major League Baseball season the Bronx Baseball & Beer video podcast made its debut to an audience of approximately—not counting friends and family—zero viewers. Two years later, B3 Baseball, as the southeastern Connecticut-based podcast has been rebranded, draws 100,000 viewers across multiple platforms like YouTube and Facebook Live for each of the weekly podcasts that run throughout the baseball season and off-season, and 500,000 views a month across all internet platforms, according to the website, b3-baseball.com. It has attracted such international and national sponsors as Red Bull Energy Drink, RTIC Outdoors, manufacturers of outdoor gear, SeatGeek, a mobile-focused ticket platform, and Cannadips, tobacco-free hemp CBD pouches. The program hosts, Scott Freyer, 52, retired from the Navy and now working for the militar y

as a civilian employee, and Chris Nott, 33, a Norwich police officer, break down MLB news, interview superstar guests and discuss all things MLB during their weekly show. Justin Tucker, founder and executive producer of FWRD Content, a production company out of Norwich, is the third member of the team. The podcast was The Day’s 2022 Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards winner in the Local Podcast or Podcast Host category. In January, Freyer, who goes by “Scottso” on the show, and Nott, a.k.a. “Not Yet Notter,” branched out when they began hosting the B3 Sports talk show Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on WJJF 94.9 in New London. Freyer and Nott met through a mutual friend. F r e ye r w a s ho s t i n g a p o dc a s t t h at t out e d lo c a l

e m a g l l a b n w o d k a e br P OD

A ST S T O H T C AS

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,M S MLB G N I L TH LK AL

S TION C I D RE AKE P

3 SE R 2 02

A SO N

Chris Nott, left, and Scott Freyer host B3 Baseball, a sports video podcast produced by FWRD Content and filmed at FWRD Studios in Norwich. Photo courtesy of FWRD Content

breweries in an attempt t o i nc r e a s e t hei r bu s i ne s s during the pandemic. Nott and the friend had a sports podcast. Soon after the two were introduced, the idea for a baseball video podcast was born. Originally shot out of a basement, the pair connected with Tucker and FWRD Content. When first recording at the FRWD Content studio, they used a green screen as a backdrop but then shifted to a permanent set in Norwich in an effort to look more professional. “We just said, ‘Let’s step up the game,’” Freyer commented. A full set, including a permanent desk, was built and high-quality microphones were purchased. The decision also was made to drop the words “beer” and “Bronx” from the show’s title. They found the word

Adobe Stock photo

april 2023 19

people & places LEFT The set at FWRD Studios in Norwich where B3 Baseball is filmed. Photo courtesy of FWRD Content RIGHT The show’s hosts break down MLB news, interview superstar guests and discuss all things MLB during their weekly podcast. Photo courtesy of FWRD Content

“beer” turned off possible guests as well as sponsors, and the word “Bronx” pigeonholed the show as being only about the New York Yankees. While the pair are fans of the Bronx Bombers, their shows are not Yankee-centric and not always focused on baseball. The success of B3, as with any successful podcast, is about the hosts. “Our vibe is good together. Our chemistry is good together. There is no dead air,” Freyer said. “We both know the game, the stats and the players and we try to make it as entertaining as possible,” Nott added. “We’re smart, funny and sometimes angry.” As the show grows its audience, it is also garnering notice from others in the industry. Keith McPherson, who hosts a weekday late-night show on WFAN sports radio out of New York, is a fan and has been a guest on the podcast. During the baseball season, the show is aired live, sometimes while a game is going on with the hosts commenting on the action in real time on their website, Facebook Live and YouTube. Subscribers and followers of B3 are given a minimum of a day’s notice as to when the next show will be aired. During the off-season, the show is recorded. As for the 2023 season, both hosts see New York dominating the American League East.

magazine

“It’s going to be the Yankees and it’s not even close,” Nott said. Lest you think they are blinded by their allegiances, both picked the Toronto Blue Jays to win the division in 2022. While the re-signing of Aaron Judge was important as was the signing of pitcher Carlos Rodon, what most bolsters their optimism is the beefing up of the front office with the addition of former New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya and former San Francisco Giants Executive Vice President Brian Sabean. Neither B3 hosts are fans of the current Yankees general manager or manager. “I’m not happy (GM Brian) Cashman is back and I’m all set with (Manager) Aaron Boone,” Nott said. They are also highly critical of the Yankees’ analytics team, which they described as “awful.” “Boone isn’t picking the (daily) lineups. He’s listening to the analytics team,” Nott said. Neither has much optimism for the Boston Red Sox, which lost bona fide stars in designated hitter J.D. Martinez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts to free agency and did little to fill the voids. The pitching staff was “decimated” in the off-season, said Nott. The Sox did re-sign third baseman Rafael Devers to a massive long-term contract. The one bright spot is the signing of Justin

Turner, who the pair likened to Kevin Millar, who will be a plus in the clubhouse. Freyer is a fan of Red Sox Manager Alex Cora but thinks he could be fired before the season is over, through no fault of his own. “Clearly they haven’t given him the groceries to cook a great meal,” Freyer said. B3, though, has plenty of ingredients to be successful at its current level, but the hosts are looking to move beyond local and regional audiences with their collective sights set on the national stage.

Watch and listen to B3 Baseball at b3-baseball.com, on the B3 Media YouTube channel, and on B3 Baseball’s Facebook page. Anthony Pioppi is primarily a golf writer and historian. He is the author of four books, including The Finest Nines, North America’s Best Nine-Hole Golf Courses, as well as the co-author of Haunted Golf. He is also the executive director of the Seth Raynor Society.

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To that end, they continue to put their own cash and what little profits they make back into the show, rather than see money now. “We’d rather get the paycheck later,” Tucker said.

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april 2023 21

E N T E R TA I N I N G

R E S TAU R A N T S

FOOD & DRINK

Niantic. p hoto by Peter DeMarco

RECIPES

taste

students cook up unique lunch menus

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Not your typical

home ec class NFA’S STUDENT-RUN RESTAURANT IS A HIDDEN CULINARY GEM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Story and photos by Winter Caplanson

t’s Norwich’s hidden culinary gem: a full-service restaurant offering a tasty four-course, scratchmade meal for under $20. Brickview is the student-run restaurant at Norwich Free Academy, serving lunch to the public Tuesday through Thursday. This is experiential learning you can taste. For each meal, one student takes the lead in planning the menu. Ranging from cuisines like German to Egyptian, Mexican and pan-Asian, these kids strive to put forward something unique. The culmination of a wide array of cooking classes offered by teachers Laura Szczygiel, Amy Reed and Teresa Fernan are those courses focused on running the Brickview Restaurant … think honors level culinary class. A good number of these students plan to go on to culinary school. Some work in restaurant kitchens now. A recent Brickview menu planned by senior Jillian Dykema featured a classic miso soup with chunks of tofu and seaweed, garnished with scallions; orange

chicken; veggie pad Thai; and Chinese custard tarts. Menus are posted online, usually a week in advance. Some fan favorite dishes are in heavy rotation: baked potato soup with sour cream, scallions and bacon. “No matter how many times we put it on the menu, it will always sell fast,” says Szczygiel. Anything alfredo is a crowd-pleaser, as is Big Mac Salad—a bed of lettuce topped with crumbled juicy hamburger, shredded cheese, pickles, onions, “special sauce” (aka Thousand Island dressing) croutons and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. “It’s a deconstructed burger,” Szczygiel explains. “It’s delicious. It’s simple.” Caesar salad, sometimes with anchovy, sometimes without, is equally popular with either romaine or kale. All salad dressings served at Brickview are made from scratch. Student chefs and diners alike delight in dessert. Szczygiel recalls,”We had churros on the menu and sold so many orders, we had to make more during the middle of the lunch service.” Tiramisu and cannoli always get rave reviews. “Baklava was a huge

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taste

Culinary students Brhayan Cancho, Francis Perez, Gianna Sanders, Sean Grice, Mavet Flores Perez.

Teacher Laura Szczygiel plates up a meal while students Lili Smith, left, and Nasir Clarke look on.

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seller for us this year,” Szczygiel says. “I didn’t know people loved it as much as they do.” Like a real restaurant, this student-run version, in operation since 1990, has the economics of the business in mind. “Selling out is the goal,” says Szczygiel. “Students want their menu to be a hit, and they’re quite competitive about it.” The classes, Szczygiel says, a re f un, exciting, hands-on. “There’s movement. Students who struggle in other academic areas often shine here. There’s nothing ‘home ec’ about this … it’s legit culinary training preparing students for success in the restaurant world.” Math is required to scale recipes up to feed large numbers. Students utilize a state-of-the-art “point of sale” system. Interpersonal skills are built as students interact with diners. One has to think on their feet here: No spätzle maker? Trial and error determines a colander will do the trick. Running short of an ingredient calls for brainstorming a substitution.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Lunch is served at Brickview, Norwich Free Academy’s student-run

restaurant, from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. on alternating Wednesdays (call ahead). Early arrival will ensure a leisurely hour to enjoy lunch, but diners can arrive as late as 11:30, still be served, and stay as late as noon. Dine in or takeout available. Cash or checks are accepted. There is an ATM on campus. Arrive at the NFA visitor check-in station at the south (main) entrance on Crescent Street, let them know you’re there to visit Brickview and they will guide you to a parking space. Do expect a bit of a walk. To see the daily menu, visit nfaschool.org/campus-life/brickview. For reservations (encouraged for three or more) or to place a takeout order, Student Lili Smith prepares a dish at NFA’s Brickview restaurant.

email brickview@nfaschool.org or call 860-425-5724 by 10 a.m. on that day.

The Brickview dining room is ready to seat guests for lunch Tuesdays, Thursdays and alternating Wednesdays.

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taste Students learn how to wash dishes properly and employ methods of sanitation and food safety. Every student earns the ServSafe Food Handler certification which will be a feather in their cap for a culinary job beyond high school. All menu items are prepared from start to finish in two class periods in the preceding days, but some students come in before school to get a few last-minute things done. “The dedication they have in the restaurant is evident,” Szczygiel says. “When students spend their study halls here prepping for the next service, it’s because they love what they’re doing.” Enjoyed your meal? Brickview has a tip jar (tips are pooled until the end of the year and then shared equally) but words of kindness may go farther. “When diners email me their compliments to the chefs, I love to pass that along to the kids,” shares Szczygiel. “The students are so proud of what they do, they put so much work into it, and they love to show it off,” she adds. “We want more people to come to eat and see and taste all the good that’s happening here.” Winter Caplanson is a writer and commercial photographer specializing in food, agriculture and handcraft. Follow her on social platforms as New England Food and Farm.

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Student Denzil Rodriguez prepares a dessert at NFA’s Brickview.

“It’s legit culinary training preparing students for success in the restaurant world.” LAURA SZCZYGIEL

Student Daniechka Garcia Martinez works in the kitchen.

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taste | RESTAURANT LISTINGS ASIAN

PINK BASIL

Our menu reflects the time-honored traditions of authentic Asian cuisine. With influences from Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, our dishes can transport you around the world in one bite. Open Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–9 p.m. 27 Coogan Boulevard, Building 3B, Mystic 860-245-4470; pinkbasilct.com

BARBECUE

FINE DINING

NOBLE SMOKEHOUSE

85 MAIN

WE LIVE, BREATHE AND SMOKE BARBECUE! With a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, our chef Christopher Lusk is excited to present our unique sauces and flavors to you. Open Wednesday–Thursday 12–7 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 12–8 p.m.; Sunday 12–7 p.m.; Monday 4–7 p.m.; Closed Tuesday

Fresh, contemporary fare, seasonally influenced. Fresh seafood, steaks and locally grown produce. High-quality sushi and full raw bar. Enjoy creative cocktails while dining on our patio, weather permitting. Open Sunday–Wednesday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

4 Roosevelt Avenue, Mystic 860-415-9564; noblesmokehouse.com

85 Main Street, Putnam 860-928-1660; 85main.com

BAKERY

GIULIANO’S BAKERY

FAMILY STYLE

GROTON TOWNHOUSE RESTAURANT

Hometown bakery known for crispy bread, rolls and pastries. Also serving breakfast sandwiches. Come see us for our large diverse variety of baked goods. Open daily 5 a.m.–8 p.m. 284 Main Street, Niantic 860-739-5495; nianticbakery.com

We are a family-style restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. We also have a large assortment of freshbaked pies and cakes daily. Open daily 6 a.m.–9 p.m. 355 CT-12, Groton; 860-449-0355 grotontownhouserestaurant.com

ITALIAN

BUON APPETITO RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA

Family-owned and operated Italian restaurant serving an eclectic mix of northern Italian dishes with the best service, food and presentation. Enjoy a true dining experience with a Tuscan flair. Open Tuesday & Wednesday 3–9 p.m.; Thursday 12–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 12–10 p.m.; Sunday 12–9 p.m.; Closed Monday 386 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington; 860-535-2333; buonappetitoristorante.com

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SEAFOOD

ILLIANO’S GRILL IN NORWICH

SPORTS BAR

J & R SEAFOOD

Serving authentic southern Italian cuisine since 1997 using the best ingredients, from mozzarella to seafood. Our dishes are made to order: pizza, pasta, fresh salads, soups and gourmet Italian classics. Open Monday–Friday 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

C.C. O’BRIEN’S

J & R Seafood market is much more than fresh seafood. Enjoy market-made chowders, prepared meals, made-to-order food menu, catering options and raw bar events! Open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

257 West Town Street Yantic; 860-889-6163; illianosgrill.com

JAPANESE

45 Williams Avenue, Mystic 860-415-4656; jrseafoodmarket.com

SAMURAI NOODLE

Friendly Irish sports cafe serving a variety of pub food. Award-winning burgers and wings with sports on 23 TVs! Pool and darts. 22 draft beers. Serving food Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday 12–9 p.m.; Bar open later 8 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck 860-599-2034; ccobriens.com

THAI

THE SPICE CLUB

Retired Armed Forces Association

FRIDAY FISH FRY

Authentic Japanese ramen noodle soup, Asian barbecue and sushi in downtown Mystic. Noodles are made fresh daily on site. Happy hour 4–6 every day. Open Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–10 p.m. 27 West Main Street, Mystic 860-415-9317; samurainoodlemystic.com

Price range Take out

Delivery

Open to the public every Friday. Enjoy chowder, lobster rolls, fish & chips and more! PLUS join us on the second Saturday each month from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. for breakfast. Open Friday 3–8 p.m.

We serve healthy, home-cooked Thai, sushi and Pan-Asian cuisine in a casual, familyfriendly environment. Open since 2012. Open Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and 4–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–9 p.m. 239 Main Street, Niantic 860-451-8121; thespiceclubct.com

135 Garfield Avenue, New London 860-447-0055; armedforcesretirees.org/home

Breakfast

Brunch

Outdoor dining Cash only

Lunch

Dinner

Alcohol served Facebook

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Call ahead

Open late

Online ordering Entertainment

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april 2023 29

home & garden GARDENING

DECOR

Branford House at Avery Point Campus, Groton. p hoto by Emily Thompson

R E A L E S TAT E

go native on your yard for pollinators’ sake

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ADVICE

Birds, bees and butterflies LYME POLLINATOR PATHWAY PART OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO BOOST INSECT HABITAT, IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM By Phil Hall

or many suburban homeowners, few things are more aesthetically pleasing than having a tightly mowed lawn surrounding their property. To these people, the vast spread of symmetrically horizontal grass clipped to precision, with nary a f loral intrusion arising amid the spread of green, represents residential serenity at its finest. For Wendolyn Hill, however, this vision of suburbia represents the worst scenario imaginable. “A big expansive lawn is basically like a desert because it doesn’t support any life,” said Hill, the chairwoman of the Lyme Pollinator Pathway, a volunteer organization that helps Lyme residents establish and connect habitats that provide food sources for bees, butterf lies and other pollinators. Hill’s problem with manicured lawns comes from the disruption they create in the ecosystem.

“Birds need a lot of caterpillars to live,” she explained. “And many native caterpillars can only survive on certain native plants. Because the insects and the plants have evolved over thousands of years, the insects have become very specific to certain plants that they can, (and) that their young can use as food.” In Hill’s view, exacerbating the problem with manicured lawns devoid of native plants is the decision by homeowners to plant flowers that are not native to Connecticut but are chosen simply for their decorative attractiveness. “They’re beautiful and they may provide nectar, and not all that aren’t native are bad,” she explained. “But they are not beneficial. They don’t support the propagation of insects.” Hill cited the rapidly declining population of monarch butterflies, which lay their eggs on milkweed.

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april 2023 31

home & garden

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She observed, “If you don’t have any milkweed, you don’t have any monarch butterflies. And then you don’t have monarch butterfly larvae, because that’s the only plant that they can survive eating.” The Lyme Pollinator Pathway was established in 2021 as an initiative of the Lyme SustainableCT Committee, which is appointed by the Lyme Board of Selectmen. Lyme is one of several Connecticut towns participating in the wider Pollinator Pathway movement started in Seattle in 2008 by artist and designer Sarah Bergmann to “connect park to park” and expand habitats for bees and other pollinating creatures. Bergmann’s effort was inspired by the research of Doug Tallamy, a professor in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. “He realized that the insects were declining at an alarming rate because of the lack of native vegetation,” said Hill, pointing out that more than 200 towns across the Northeast have Pollinator Pathways. The initiative was inspired in Connecticut by the work of environmentalist Donna Merrill of Wilton, who helped create the first connected pollinator habitat here in 2016. In Hill’s view, bringing this initiative to Lyme was the proverbial no-brainer. “We have a lot of preserves in Lyme,” she stated. “About 50 percent of the land is protected either as a preserve or in conservation easements. So, we have a strong mission to protect the environment.” And this cycles back to Hill’s aforementioned agitation about manicured lawns. “Even though we have a lot of preserves in Lyme, we also have a lot of lawns,” she continued. “And the threat of fragmentation caused by large lawns between the preserves is that it makes it difficult for wildlife to move from one place to another.”

Top A Pollinator Pathway event at Ballek’s Garden Center in East Haddam. p hoto courtesy of lyme land trust Above The blooms of a native mountain mint attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. photo courtesy of lyme land trust below Diana Furse Fiske, Pollinator Pathway event coordinator, shows a yard sign that’s available to landowners whose property is on the Pollinator Pathway. photo courtesy of lyme land trust

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home & garden In Hill’s view, stereotypical suburban gardening focuses on visual prettiness rather than consideration on whether f loral plantings play any role in ecosystem maintenance. “There are many native plants that have lost popularity that we’re trying to get people to plant in their gardens,” she said. “It’s not like you have to eliminate all non-natives from your gardens or lawns. If you have a garden or even just your backyard, make you r law n sma l ler a nd a l low parts of it to grow into wildflowers like goldenrod, which is a valuable native plant.” Hill said the initiative’s educational outreach—which includes an information-thick website full of articles and free Zoom presentations—can help illuminate the importance of native flowers and the tiny wildlife that keeps them flourishing. The Lyme Pollinator Pathway occasionally offers community projects, such as last May’s volunteer effort to install a dry swale rain garden of native plants at Reed Landing in the Old Hamburg Historic District. “We’re very involved in teaching people to … identify and remove invasive plants, because invasive plants were brought into this country and crowd out all the native plants,” she said. “They’re so successful, but they don’t provide any ecological value. It’s a way that people can make the world a better place and help with the health of the planet by doing individual actions.” A s a volu nt a r y ende avor, t he Ly me Pollinator Pathway does not have the authority to enforce the planting of specific flowers. Yet Hill said that individuals working in their own yards can make a difference in preserving the environment. Even the smallest green spaces, like flower boxes and curb strips, can be part of a pathway.

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Above Monarda punctata, commonly called spotted beebalm, is a native herbaceous perennial to the eastern U.S. that attracts pollinators.. photo courtesy of lyme land trust below Pollinator Pathway information was available to visitors during the recent Eightmile Riverfest, a free family event in October that celebrates the Eightmile River. photo courtesy of lyme land trust

“Sometimes it gets so frustrating because you feel like you really have no power over policy or how the Earth is being used, but you do have power over your own backyard,” Hill said. “You can, in your own way, contribute to the health of the planet by creating habitat in your backyard. There are tons and tons of lawns with just grass and no food for bees and other creatures—they’re not going to survive. If everybody chose to create some habitat in their backyard, that would be a stepping stone to get to another really rich environment.” More information on the Lyme Pollinator Pathway can be found online at lymelandtrust.org/lyme-pollinator-pathway. The nonprof it Pollinator Pathway organization offers resources and a toolkit for individuals, organizations and towns interested in developing their own pathways, at pollinator-pathway.org. Phil Hall is a Connecticut-based writer and the host of the WAPJ-FM talk show Nutmeg Chatter.

Above and below Volunteers put in native plants as part of the Lyme Pollinator Pathway project at Reed Landing along the banks of Eightmile River. The garden was designed to slow stormwater runoff, control erosion and filter pollution. photos courtesy of lyme land trust

“A big expansive lawn is basically like a desert because it doesn’t support any life.” WENDOLYN HILL

april 2023 35

monthly feature

this page The natural areas of the Connecticut College Arboretum are left undisturbed save for routine trail maintenance . Photo courtesy of Connecticut College Arboretum right A trout lily in the wildflower garden at the Connecticut College Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Connecticut College Arboretum

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THE 750 ACRES OF NATURAL LANDSCAPE AT CONNECTICUT COLLEGE ARE ABOUT TO BURST TO LIFE

By Dirk Langeveld

ach spring, winter-weary New Englanders keep an eager eye out for signs of warming weather and the return of a lush landscape. One of the best places to observe the transition is the Connecticut College Arboretum, where students and a small staff tend to thousands of trees, plants and shrubs in the vast gardens and pathways in New London and Waterford. Since it was established in 1931, the arboretum has offered educational opportunities for Connecticut College students and researchers, provided an environment for public education and recreation, and created a way for busy residents to connect with the natural world. Originally established on a 64-acre site west of the college’s main campus, it has grown over the years to more than 750 acres. All areas are open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset. Maggie Redfern, interim director of the arboretum, says the conser vation of this land helps reduce forest fragmentation and preserve wildlife habitat, provides educational value for students and the public, encourages people to incorporate more native plants into their landscaping, and offers the public the peaceful experience of being in nature.

PLENTY TO EXPLORE

The Native Plant Collection, accessible through a handsome entrance on Williams Street, is arguably the most well-known part of the arboretum. A path flanked by mountain laurel leads to a pond, which the college originally created for ice skating by damming a red maple swamp. Nearly 2,500 distinct species native to North America can be found within the 30-acre collection. Several smaller gardens are grouped within, featuring wildflowers, azaleas, mountain laurel and conifers. Met a l w a l k w ay s h ave been installed to cross a bog and extend into the deeper water of the pond. The walkways are designed to have m i n i m a l i mpac t on t he landscape while allowing visitors to observe plants and w ildlife in formerly inaccessible areas. However, the property extends well beyond the Native Plant Collection. A 1996 decision designated the a rboretum as inclusive of all campus property, encompassing specimens from all over the world. The main campus also includes the Lillian Niederman Garden—an “old field” open landscape planted in 2012 and characterized primarily by meadow grasses and flowers—and a 3,000-square-foot greenhouse.

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monthly feature Hidden on the east side of Route 32, the Caroline Black Garden predates the arboretum but is now considered part of it. Black, the first chair of Connecticut College’s botany department, established the 3-acre landscaped tract of woody plants as a small teaching garden. The garden was named for her after her untimely death in 1930. Large tracts of the arboretum’s property extend into Waterford and are preserved as natural or managed areas, creating a habitat for native plants and animals. The arboretum’s only maintenance in these areas is the upkeep of trails. One particularly distinctive feature of the natural areas is Mamacoke Island, a 40-acre rocky island in the Thames River. A tidal salt marsh connects Mamacoke Island to the mainland, creating a path to visit the island and enjoy panoramic views from the middle of the river. “I think a lot of people are surprised about Mamacoke Island,” says Redfern. “Just being able to walk across the salt marsh and around a wooded island in the Thames River is a pretty special natural feature that we have.” Redfern says part of the excitement of exploring the arboretum is simply coming across unexpected sights, such as native lilies or luna moths. Visitors can also find interesting features such as colonial-era stone walls and cemeteries in the arboretum.

SPRING BLOOMS

Due to their adaptation to late frosts, many native plants in the arboretum will flower and leaf out later than exotic species. However, early spring tends to bring the emergence of species such as spicebush, red maple, willows, shadbush and bloodroot. Redfern says it can also be an amazing experience to witness the early development of plants in the arboretum. “Before all the leaves and flowers emerge, just seeing the structure of the plants can be really beautiful,” she says. Flower blooms accelerate in May, and a tour of the wildflower collection in the arboretum is typically held on the first Friday of this month.

MUSIC, THEATER AND MORE

Another source of recreation within the arboretum is the outdoor theater, located within the Native Plant Collection. A boulder-strewn open field slopes gently down toward the shore of the pond, creating a natural arena to view performances. The theater was created in part through a donation in 1932 from student Frances Buck, who received $2,000 from

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above Visitors to the arboretum can encounter all types of wildlife, including a pair of hooded mergansers. photo by janet Argenta below The arboretum has spaces for music and theater, including summertime events such as “Music in the Meadow” and Flock Theatre’s “Shakespeare in the Arboretum.” P hoto by Janet Argenta right Fiddleheads, or young fern fronds. Photo courtesy of Connecticut College Arboretum

EXPLORE THE ARBORETUM

The Connecticut College Arboretum is open to the public, and passive recreation is welcomed. People are invited to walk, snowshoe or cross-country ski through the properties. Dogs are allowed if they are kept on a leash and their owners clean up after them. Running and biking is prohibited, but jogging is allowed on designated trails on arboretum properties near the athletic center. Visitors can explore the arboretum on their own through self-guided tours or free docent-guided tours between May and October, including one of the Native Plant Collection on the first Sunday of the month and one of the Caroline Black Garden on the second Sunday of the month. Many plants in the arboretum are labeled, and people can also peruse detailed online databases that identify where plants are located. Visit the arboretum website for more information and to register for a tour: conncoll.edu/the-arboretum/visiting-the-arboretum.

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monthly feature her father as a reward for not smoking while attending college. Her family was impressed with the gesture and the resulting improvement to the arboretum, and donated additional funds to create the rustic Buck Lodge located nearby. Music in the Meadow, a family-friendly festival featuring local musicians, is held at the outdoor theater in early June. Since 1994, the outdoor theater has hosted summer shows from Flock Theatre, which puts on Shakespeare plays with the surrounding landscape as a backdrop. Derron Wood, founder and principal artistic director of Flock Theatre, says he enjoyed walking through the arboretum while he was a student at Connecticut College and continues to enjoy it today. Wood says the environment is perfect for

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brainstorming or running lines, and that it fits well with the natural themes in Shakespeare’s plays. “The space allows the audience’s imagination to connect on a much more direct level than those elements recreated in an indoor theater,” he says. The arboretum has also proved attractive to photographers, and a contest is held each year inviting people to submit their best shots. Awards are given in several categories, and winners get prizes such as a puzzle and note cards featuring their photos.

AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING

Thirty different courses at Connecticut College use the arboretum, covering topics like biology, botany and environmental science. The setting has also hosted dance classes, been the site of student-led

archaeological digs, and served as a study in landscape architecture and design. The arboretum has been used for a variety of research, including long-term vegetation and birding surveys. Some studies have been going on since the 1950s, illustrating how the forests have changed over the decades since then. Arboretum staff have also held annual conferences on ecology and hosted Smaller A merican Law ns Today, a movement encouraging property owners to return more of their land to a natural state. “The arboretum is always changing, through seasons and across years,” says Chad Jones, associate professor of botany and environmental sciences at Connecticut College. “Careful observation can be one of the best ways to learn.”

Other specialty programs are also available. One, established by a Connecticut College student as her senior thesis some 30 years ago, is still going strong to provide tours to elementary school students. The Connecticut Audubon Society also hosts children’s programs in the arboretum, and an en plein air painting program hosted by the Florence Griswold Museum will return this year at the end of April. To learn more about the Connecticut College Arboretum, visit conncoll.edu/the-arboretum. Dirk Langeveld has written for newspapers and magazines since 2007, and is the author of The Artful Dodger, a nonfiction biography. He is a former marketing editor at The Day and now works at Miranda Creative.

The marsh connecting Mamacoke Island, on the right, with the mainland in summer. Photo courtesy of Connecticut College Arboretum

View from Mamacoke north along the Thames river. P hoto courtesy of Connecticut College Arboretum

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april 2023 41

monthly feature

earth day

magazine

offers chance to give back CLEANUPS, EVENTS PLANNED THROUGHOUT REGION IN APRIL & BEYOND

Community members came out last year to pick up bags full of trash, litter and recyclables at Groton Public Library and the surrounding area. This year, the library hosts a cleanup on April 21 and an environmental fair on Earth Day, April 22. P hoto courtesy of Groton Public Library

By Jennifer Carmichael

iscarded water bottles, cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bags and deflated balloons are among the top trash items littering our beaches, nature trails and recreation areas, leading to soil, water and air pollution and causing potential harm to humans and animals. This Earth Day and throughout April, you can be a part of the Great Global Cleanup, a worldwide campaign to clean our planet and rid the environment of waste and plastic pollution. The Great Global Cleanup lists events happening internationally and, in 2022, recorded some local ones, including one hosted by Craig Fasullo, a licensed naturopathic physician with Collaborative Natural Health Partners practicing in Manchester and Stonington and a member of the North Stonington Sustainability Committee. While litter is a global problem, it’s essential to know what you can do locally to make a difference in your community. “We are living on this planet, sharing it with other creatures, and we should have some responsibility,” says Fasullo, who’s been a member of the sustainability committee for about a year and involved with other environmental organizations in the past. “There’s a lot of power in how an individual can make a difference on a small or big scale.” According to the sustainability committee’s website, its mission is to support the cultural fabric of the community and the local economy while promoting the health and well-being of current and future residents and respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. P r e s i d e nt A l e x i s K a h n s a y s t h e w e b s it e (northstoningtonct.gov/sustainability-committee)

april 2023 43

monthly feature

“We are living on this planet … we should have some responsibility.” CRAIG FASULLO

top left Trash collected in Stonington Borough during a cleanup sponsored by New England Science & Sailing Foundation. p hoto courtesy of NESS top right Volunteers helped pick up litter and trash around the Groton Public Library. photo courtesy of Groton Public Library above This image shows the amount of litter collected in more than six hours on Cossaduck Hill Road in North Stonington during a 2022 cleanup. photo courtesy of Craig Fasullo

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lists local cleanup events, which will mirror what the committee coordinated in 2022 and possibly more. “Having everyone gather together and socialize makes cleaning up more fun than doing so on your own,” notes Kahn. Cleanups took place at Hewitt Farm, Billings Lake and Wyassup Lake, sites chosen because they are family-friendly and, unfortunately, have a lot of litter. Like last year, 100 percent recycled plastic bags will be available for trash pickup. In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Groton Public Library has a Library Clean Up Day on Friday, April 21, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., during which volunteers can help the staff tidy up the library grounds. Meet at the library entrance to pick up litter and recyclables outside the library and the Thrive55+ Active Living Center, which shares a parking lot. Bags and grabbers will be provided, but bring your work gloves. “We try to do this a couple of times a year, but we get more participants around Earth Day because people want to find a way to help,” says Kimmerle Balentine, librarian and volunteer coordinator. “And we collect a ton of stuff.” On Earth Day, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Groton Public Library will host a fair with other community organizations focused on living more sustainably and featuring lectures along with 30-plus vendors and food trucks. Jason Hine, the owner of The Ditty Bag, a zero-waste store in Mystic, was behind the idea for the fair and hopes it will be the first annual event. His mission is to help people reduce their plastic and carbon footprint, and he hopes to bring the community together. While he coordinates cleanups with the Coast Guard Academy once a year, he wanted to get behind an event that might be instrumental in changing people’s habits, he says. “We want to offer people at the fair opportunities to get started on steps toward living more sustainably right

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april 2023 45

monthly feature

above A group of volunteers at a recent cleanup at Groton Public Library. The library hosts a cleanup on Friday, April 21, and an environmental fair on Saturday, April 22. p hoto courtesy of Groton Public Library below Volunteers showed up to a cleanup sponsored by New England Science & Sailing Foundation in Stonington Borough. p hoto courtesy of NESS

then and there,” says Hine. “I’m looking forward to a day of celebration and action with vegan foods to try, free giveaways, better items for our planet on sale, and we may host a cleanup.” And while New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) hosted a debris cleanup and collected over 97 pieces of trash throughout Stonington Borough and even more from those who held cleanups in their communities in 2022, it may not have one this year. However, the organization does plan to encourage and educate the community on the importance of Earth Day and taking care of the environment. Throughout the year, NESS helps create a culture of stewardship through many programs, such as beach cleanups, student community projects and educational lessons. In September, NESS plans to host its 12th Annual Catch a Curl surfing competition at Westerly Town Beach. After the

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below Trash is picked up during a cleanup in North Stonington last year. photo courtesy of the North Stonington Sustainability Committee right, top and bottom Volunteers bag trash on the grounds of the Groton Public Library and the nearby Thrive55+ Active Living Center. p hotos courtesy of Groton Public Library

competition, NESS will partner with the North American Marine Environment Protection Association and the Ocean Recovery Community Alliance to organize a beach cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year, the 70 surfing competitors and their families, staff members, volunteers and partners collected over 77 pounds of trash and marine debris. Visit nessf.org to find out more about NESS events throughout the year. The Public Library of New London will host a garden event from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22. They’ll have free supplies such as planters, potting soil, plant supports and seeds to help home gardeners prepare for the planting season. Visit plnl.org for more information. Jennifer Carmichael is a contributing writer at The Day Magazine and enjoys writing on a variety of topics. She grew up in Connecticut and graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island.

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SHOPPING

APPS

FA S H I O N

B E AU T Y

MEDIA

Beach Pond, Voluntown. photo by Nicole Vitali

BOOKS

trending

famous locals who made it big

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turning pages literary column

Connecticut-born actors and where to watch them

By Kitty Williams

onnecticut may be known for its New England charm and fall foliage, but as we all know, there is so much more to brag about in the Nutmeg State. For one thing, there are a plethora of talented performers who were born in these towns we call home. Celebrate the stars that have risen from Connecticut by watching these shows and films.

1. Paul Lieberstein (The Office on Peacock)

Though he was born in Connecticut, Paul Lieberstein is most often associated with Scranton, Pennsylvania, the location of the fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin in The Office. As Toby Flenderson, a human resources rep, he is often bullied by manager Michael Scott in an incredibly amusing dynamic. Lieberstein was also an executive producer and writer for the show. So though the show has brought fame to Scranton, it is West Hartford that can take credit for raising one of the creative comedic minds that brought the show to life.

2. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary on Hulu)

Born in Waterbury, Sheryl Lee Ralph has a list of acting credits that creeps into the triple digits—and that doesn’t even take into account her Broadway performances, one of which earned her a Tony Award. Most recently, she has been standing out as Philly teacher Barbara Howard in the mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary. Her comedic excellence even earned her a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, making her the first Black woman to win that award in 35 years.

3. Paul Giamatti (Private Life on Netflix)

Not only did Paul Giamatti grow up in Connecticut, he also fostered his love for the performing arts at the Yale School of Drama. His career has ranged from minor villain in the comedy film Big Fat Liar to major villain in the Showtime series Billions. But one of his most

profoundly moving roles was in the 2018 film Private Life. He stars alongside Kathryn Hahn as they portray a couple that is trying desperately to have a child through any means, though it brings up a lot of hurt and frustration.

4. Aarti Mann (The Recruit on Netflix)

A Connecticutborn actress who has been performing since the midaughts, Aarti Mann has had roles on shows including The Big Bang Theory, Suits and Never Have I Ever. Just last year she had a leading role in Netflix’s new original series The Recruit, in which she plays a CIA agent alongside Noah Centineo. In the character of Violet Ebner, she holds a grudge and isn’t afraid to cause trouble, but she’ll also leave you laughing.

5. Glenn Close (The Wife on Amazon)

Glenn Close was born in Greenwich and decided to pursue acting after seeing an interview with Katharine Hepburn (who also happened to be born in Connecticut). Close has had an extensive career with memorable leading roles throughout. However, one of her most notable recent performances was in The Wife, in which she played the titular wife of a man who wins, and travels to Stockholm to accept, a Nobel Prize in literature. By the end of the film, you’ll realize the secrets her subtle facial expressions had been hinting at since her very first moments on screen. Kitty Williams lives in Brooklyn, New York, and shares her writing and photography at amykatherinewilliams.com.

april 2023 49

trending | TURNING PAGES

By Janet Reynolds

he joy of diving into a book a nd rea lizing you a re in love just pages into it never gets old. And that happiness is even better when you realize the author has written other books. In other words, this first book is just the beginning of what you hope will be a beautiful relationship. The nu mb e r of aut ho r s f o r whom this has happened for me is high at this point. For the purposes of this month’s column, though, I’m going to focus on two recent authors because they both have new books out. Also to clarify: This is not about authors who have written series. That’s a column for a different day. First up is Geraldine Brooks, who is known for taking a sometimes small, perhaps obscure historical moment, and then f leshing it out as a fascinating piece of historical fiction. The Australian-American author has written five books that fit that bill and all of them worth checking out. Let’s sta r t w ith Brooks’ new book, Horse, which is absolutely s t u n n i n g ly w r itt en . I f you’ve been thinking, “Yeah, I should read that,” the answer is “Yes, you should read it right now.” Move it to the top of that book list and be prepared to be wowed. Brooks takes a discarded painting, a horse skeleton languishing

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one good book leads to

another

THE BEAUTY OF DISCOVERING AN AUTHOR WITH MULTIPLE WORKS

in the Smithsonia n a rchives, a nd the stor y of Lexington, the greatest racehorse in American histor y, and masterfully weaves them together in a story that is at once historically fascinating and immediately relevant in today’s racial unrest and questioning. Using historical tidbits is classic Brooks, who often works off just a shred of history and expands it—after extensive research—into a rich, vibrant world. Other Brooks you don’t want to miss: Year of Wonders seems especially prescient as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The story is inspired by the true story of Eyam, a small English village that received a bolt of cloth infected with bubonic plague. In Year of Wonders, a housemaid, Anna Frith, tells much of this story as she and other town inhabitants try to stop the spread of disease (and all the misinformation and rumors spreading with it). Among their decisions? To self-quarantine the village from the rest of the country. Hmmm… Caleb’s Crossing is also set in the 17th century but this time on the other side of the pond. In 1665, the first Native American, a young man from Martha’s Vineyard, graduated from Harvard College. From this historical sliver, Brooks crafts a story of love and friendship, faith and culture. People of the Book is more fiction than fact but is inspired by the conser vation of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated texts. It was rescued during the Bosnian War. From this idea, Brooks weaves a fascinating tale following rare-book expert Hanna Heath as she tries to unlock the book’s past. And finally these two books, which I have not yet read but absolutely will because Geraldine Brooks wrote them: The Secret Chord reimagines the life of King David in Second Iron Age Israel. March is a diversion of sorts for Brooks because it is a “history” of a completely fictional, mostly missing character— March, the father in Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little

Women who goes off to war at the beginning of Alcott’s book. Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for this last book. Why I haven’t read these yet is beyond me but that will change soon. Another author who offers fans options aplenty for good reading is Maggie O’Farrell. The Irish writer has been winning awards in the U.K. for a while but came to the attention of a wider swath of American readers with her book, Hamnet. This pithy book reimagines the writing of Shakespeare’s Hamlet from the perspective of his much-maligned, little understood wife, Anne Hathaway, who is called Agnes in the book because that is how her name appeared in her father’s will. In the story, Agnes’ children, twins Judith and Hamnet, fall ill from the bubonic plague. Judith recovers but Hamnet dies, prompting his unnamed playwright father to write Hamlet, a common variant of Hamnet, four years later—or so the story goes. It is a searing look at motherhood and loss. The writing is rich and atmospheric. You’ll race through it. O’Farrell followed Hamnet with The Marriage Portrait, which was published last year. In this historical fiction, O’Farrell imagines the life of Lucrezia de’ Medici, who at 15 has been forced to marry Alfonso II d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara. She is only one year into her marriage when she suspects her husband is going to kill her. Indeed the book opens with this realization, pulling the reader into the intrigue as we learn more about Lucrezia’s past and consider what really happened to this curious but little understood woman in history. Was she really ultimately poisoned or…? And these are just two of O’Farrell’s books. She’s written eight other fiction books and a memoir, I Am, I Am, I Am, in which she recounts her 17— yes, 17— near-death accounts. I plan to read them all. Janet Reynolds is an award-winning Connecticut journalist, editor and content strategist with deep roots in alternative journalism and arts and culture magazines. Find more of her work and contact information at janetfreynolds.com.

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trending | LOCAL FINDS

Shop unique. Shop local. Spring’s in full swing with these April finds! Happy shopping! Contact thedaymag@theday.com to feature your product. Some supplies may be limited, so act quickly!

A. HARDENCO WAIST APRON

Keep your art supplies at the tips of your fingers while crafting with this durable cotton waist apron, which comes in a rich pumpkin hue with a leather debossed Lyme Academy of Fine Arts stitched logo. It includes six pockets perfect for storing paints, brushes, drawing pencils, pastels, sculpting tools and more. $50 de Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials and Curiosities, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme; 860-434-8725; degerendays.com

B. BERNINA 475QE KAFFE SPECIAL EDITION

Color up your studio with a special edition, computerized sewing machine that features a jumbo bobbin with 70 percent more thread, a needle-up/down, convenient automatic thread cutter and exclusive Kaffe Fassett stitches. Also great for toting to a class or a sewing retreat. Free machine lessons with purchase. $2,399 Shoreline Sewing Machine Co., 22 Bayview Avenue, Studio #91, Stonington; 860-388-1832; shorelinesewingmachine.com

C. RAWLINGS 11.5” R9 CONTOUR YOUTH BASEBALL GLOVE

If you have a youth player looking to step up the quality of their baseball glove this season, this is the one for you. It features a contour fit to ensure the glove stays securely snug throughout the innings, and the all-leather shell comes 80 percent broken in for a game-ready feel the second they step onto the field. $129.95 Anthem Sports, 2 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck; 800-688-6709; anthem-sports.com

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D. RED TIGER’S EYE STONE

Plan on taking a road trip this spring? Tiger’s Eye is the perfect stone to bring with you for traveling, helping to boost your concentration and enthusiasm for exploring new places. Combining the energy of the Earth and the sun, it offers an uplifting vibe that will leave you feeling refreshed and energized even after a long drive. $5 per stone Becca Rose, 27 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic; 860-536-7007; beccarose.com

E. OLD HOUSES OF THE ANTIENT TOWN OF NORWICH, 1660–1800

Old Houses of the Antient Town of Norwich, 1660–1800 by Mary E. Perkins (Press of the Bulletin Company, Norwich, 1895) is a vintage find from the 19th century packed with fascinating town maps and history enlivened by anecdotes and reminiscences, detailing the oldest homes of Norwich and their occupants dating from the town’s settlement to the year 1800. $200 (limited supply) No Other Book Like This, 3 Roosevelt Avenue, Mystic; 860-446-0302; nootherbooklikethis.com

F. BUTTERFLY SHELTER

Create a butterfly haven in your home with a shelter that allows them protection from rainstorms and a place to rest during migration. This durable unit is handcrafted from natural cedar and invites butterflies to visit your garden while providing them with a cozy hibernation or hiding spot from birds and other predators. $47.99 Mackey’s, 249 Columbia Avenue, Willimantic; 860-423-6311; mackeysgrows.com

F G

G. VITA C PLUS

You won’t find anything that works this well in the pharmacy! This medical grade skincare contains a form of vitamin C clinically demonstrated to improve your skin’s appearance. The antioxidant cocktail of vitamins C & E and hyaluronic acid, paired with penetration enhancing hydroxy acids, makes them among the most potent ingredients available. $102 Beth Collins M.D., P.C. , 2614 Boston Post Road, Willow Hall, Suite 16C, Guilford; 860-264-5380; shopbethcollinsmd.com

H. ROSES & ROSÉ FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

Bask in the aromas of spring with a dreamy arrangement of nectarinehued roses, raspberry Dutch tulips, purple hyacinth and shimmering hellebore—paired with a vibrant rosé hand-selected for its refreshing acidity, beautiful balance and sophisticated scents of citrus, ripe pear and baked apple. Makes for a lovely celebratory gift. $150 Thames River Greenery, 70 State Street, New London; 860-443-6817; thamesrivergreenery.com

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SENIORS

PETS

E D U C AT I O N

H E A LT H

Groton Long Point. photo by Mary Wolf

FA M I L I E S

life cycles

Miracle League makes play accessible

magazine

WELLNESS

Miracles at play ACCESSIBLE BALL FIELD IN EAST LYME IS A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN FUN AND GAMES By Jeff Otterbein

Athletes and friends hang out between baseball sessions in May 2021 during opening day of “Let’s Play Baseball” at the Miracle League field in East Lyme. P hoto by Jessica Stearns, Miracle League SECT

“Every child deserves a chance to play.” hose are not just words that are found on the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut website. They play out in real life. Dave Putnam spent more than 17 years as the Parks and Recreation director for East Lyme before retiring in fall 2022. In 2017 the department partnered with the Miracle League of Connecticut for iCan Bike, a program to teach children with physical or cognitive challenges how to ride two-wheel bikes independently. What happened from there is a testament to people coming together for the greater good. Putnam

witnessed the impact of that cycling program. And the nonprofit Miracle League of Connecticut was looking to help organizations build more accessible ball fields in the state. Miracle League built its first custom-designed field with a cushioned, rubberized surface in Conyers, Georgia, in 1999, and has since built hundreds of fields across the country. “So we decided to build a f ield in East Ly me,” sa id P utna m, now Mi racle Lea g ue of Southeastern Connecticut’s executive director. “We chose Flanders Elementary School, and the Board of Education has been great with us. The

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life cycles Miracle League of Connecticut gave us seed money to get going with fundraising.” And did they ever get going. Through private fundraising— using no municipal money—and an impressive list of local sponsors, the $500,000 field opened in 2020. There have been baseball games and kickball games and lacrosse games, trick-ortreating and egg hunts. There also is an accessible basketball court on the property, donated by Kevin’s Kourts, a program that was originated by former UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie to place courts around the state for those with disabilities. For dancers, Everybody Dance Now is a new eight-week adaptive dance program held in collaboration with Studio 22 Dance in East Lyme that culminates with a recital. “It has been a huge, huge community involvement not only for East Lyme, but to date we have attracted athletes from 43 communities, over 400 athletes,” Putnam said. When the field opened in 2020, it was only the second in Connecticut and the fourth in New England. The other field in the state is in West Hartford, and Putnam said the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut is raising funds for a field to be built in Vernon. “You see the looks on the kids’ faces after a baseball game or a basketball game or anything we do,” Putnam said. “That continues to fuel me too.” And it fuels so many others who volunteer their time. Gi n a Mor r i s i s pr e s ident of t he M i r acle L e a g ue of Southeastern Connecticut. “The children love that they get to participate in adaptive sports in a safe and nurturing environment,” Morris said. “They are accepted just as they are and encouraged to have fun. Many parents have expressed how much they love bringing their children to an organization that understands and is accommodating to all different needs. Parents also have the opportunity to connect with other parents who may be experiencing similar things. There is bonding going on both on and off the field.” Jessica Stearns manages the social media accounts, helps with community events and volunteers in various sports. Like Morris, Stearns sees those bonds developing. “Being able to have friends who accept and understand you without judgment is absolutely priceless,” Stearns said. “Sometimes, especially growing up in

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above Volunteer Emma VanDusen, 12, right, works with players on a fielding drill before a baseball game Sunday, May 9, 2021, at the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut field in East Lyme. photo by Sarah Gordon / The Day below Athletes try out a new style of hoops during “Let’s Play Basketball” in March 2022. Photo by Jessica Stearns / Miracle League SECT bottom Volunteer Julia Sanders, 18, and other dancers and volunteers work on choreographing during an adaptive dance class Sunday, May 9, 2021, at the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut field in East Lyme. Photo by Sarah Gordon / The Day

BECOME A MIRACLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEER

Kids ages 4 and up can participate in the Miracle League’s lacrosse program. photo courtesy of Miracle League

Miracle League is always looking for volunteers to assist athletes, bike-riders and dancers at the various programs: Buddy volunteers assist players during ball games one on one. Buddies must be at least 12 years old and no real sports skills are necessary. iCan Bike volunteers run alongside and serve as spotters for bike riders as they learn to ride. They must be at least 15 years old and available for a full week of camp (Monday through Friday) in early August. Everybody Dance Now volunteers assist individual dancers as they learn and perform their routines. They must be at least 13 years old and available for the length of the program. The program, which began in March and meets on Saturdays, ends with a dance showcase May 18. Visit the Miracle League’s website to learn more at mlsect.org/volunteer, or email Dave Putnam at dpmlsect@gmail.com.

UPSCALE HOME FURNISHINGS ON CONSIGNMENT

WE’VE MOVED. 132 Water Street. (Next to Indigo Bleu) Stonington, CT stoningtondesign@gmail.com 203-921-6377 Hours Open Wednesday - Sunday 11-5pm facebook.com/stoningtonconsigntodesign april 2023 57

life cycles

some of the smaller towns, individuals may not have had other kids who ‘get them.’ Representation matters. Seeing other individuals with wheelchairs, hearing aids, walkers, medical devices, etc., makes you feel like you belong, too.” The major fundraisers for the league are the Playing For A Miracle Bash at the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun, which in 2022 raised about $100,000, and the Niantic Bay Oyster Festival. Then there are grants and private donations, sponsorships and field banners. It all adds up. As president of the league, Morris helps with those events as well as planning and organizing new and existing events. Morris’ 8-year-old daughter participates in the soccer and kickball program and has been a participant in the iCan Bike, a weeklong summer program that Morris says is spectacular. Stearns also has an 8-year-old who has been involved in many events. “I wanted to get involved because it is a cause near and dear to me,” Stearns said. “Besides enjoying playing sports myself, I also have physical limitations and a neurodiverse family, as well as friends with various needs and disabilities. Additionally, I also spent many years as a

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far left top A volunteer and athlete celebrate at home plate in June 2021 during the “Shoreline Showdown,” a special event between the Miracle League of Connecticut and the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut at the Miracle League field in East Lyme. P hoto by Jessica Stearns / Miracle League SECT far left bottom Kids participate in an egg hunt in April 2022. P hoto by Jessica Stearns / Miracle League SECT left Hoops for all abilities. Photo courtesy of Miracle League below Dave Putnam, former director of East Lyme Parks and Recreation and the Miracle League’s executive director, leads a cheer of “Let’s go, Miracle League,” following a baseball game at the accessible ball field in East Lyme in 2021. p hoto by Sarah Gordon / The Day

nurse working with medically fragile children and young adults who had disabilities and developmental delays as well.” Phase Two of the project, restrooms and a storage building, is in the process of starting. The third phase is a fully accessible playground area. “With the f ield being completely accessible,” Stearns said, “wheelchair users are able to maneuver around the bases for baseball and kickball with ease, and have access to the dugouts. “All the sports and activities we do are able to be tailored to the particular needs of our athletes, meaning everyone is able to play every sport we offer. In basketball, for instance, we have hoops of various heights and styles so that anyone is able to make a basket.” When the field opened in 2020 amid COVID-19 there was a sof t opening. Once that playground goes in, “optimistically in a year and a half,” says Putnam, the project will be complete and the grand plans will have come to fruition. And that will deserve one heck of a grand opening. Jeff Otterbein is a freelance writer and editor living in Manchester.

At your service THE ROAD CHURCH First Congregational Church of Stonington

Serving The Community for 350 Years Worship Services 10 am Every Sunday Plam Sunday - April 2nd Easter Sunday - April 9th At The Historic Road Meetinghouse 903 Pequot Trail, Stonington, CT 06378

Rev. Norm Erlendson (860) 759-6720 www.fccstonington.org april 2023 59

explorations D AY T R I P S

G E TAWAY S

Denison Homestead, Mystic. photo by john geyer

T R AV E L T I P S

get creative at Florence Griswold Museum

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explore Cape Cod

Hands-on

AT FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM, DISCOVERING YOUR OWN CREATIVE SIDE IS PART OF THE VISIT

Visitors of all ages find inspiration during Discovery Sundays. photo courtesy of Florence Griswold Museum

t r a

By Janet Reynolds

any think of art museums as places for standing and looking only. While the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme has paintings aplenty for people to view, the museum also offers visitors another way to experience art. In its Discovery Sundays series, which is offered from April to the end of September, visitors can not only admire the art in the many exhibits, but they also can pick up a brush, paints and paper, and create their own art—just as the hundreds of artists who visited and worked in Old Lyme did in the last century. It’s an approach that likely has Florence Griswold smiling from the great beyond.

Griswold helped to make Old Lyme the center of American Impressionism at the turn of the 20th century. Forced by dire family financial straits, Griswold transformed the family’s late Georgian mansion into a boardinghouse that ultimately became the go-to summer painting spot for some of America’s best-known artists. Everyone from Childe Hassam and Willard Metcalf to Matilda Browne and William Chadwick spent summers at the house, creating some of their most famous paintings there. Taking advantage of the home’s lovely grounds— Griswold was an avid gardener and the home abuts the Lieutenant River—Discovery Sundays is a way for visitors to paint en plein air (in fresh air, or outdoors) just as the masters of yesteryear did.

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explorations

Above An artist paints near the Lieutenant River at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme. photo by ian dobbins Below An easel on the River Walk Artists Trail at the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme. photo courtesy of Florence Griswold Museum opposite, top left The 1906 painting May Night by Willard Metcalf shows the boardinghouse by night, with a figure said to be Griswold herself. This was the first contemporary painting purchased by the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Public domain photo, via Wikimedia Commons opposite, top right An opportunity to paint en plein air on Discovery Sundays is included with the price of admission. photo courtesy of Florence Griswold Museum

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“The benef it of having an interactive activity with static exhibitions is that visitors always have something to do,” says Museum Educator Sam Swap. “Instead of just looking at art, visitors can create it as well.” When visitors are ready to paint, they receive a brush, paints that include primary colors as well as white, and paper. Stools are available as well. If interested, participants can listen to a museum staff member give pointers on how to paint a landscape. There are no official rules, though, says Swap. People can, and do, paint whatever they want. Terri Trenholm, a retired inspector from the state marshal’s department who lives in Meriden, participated in a Discovery Sunday a few years ago with a friend. Unlike her friend, who was a trained artist, Trenholm had no experience painting before that Sunday afternoon. “We sat in the garden they were restoring and painted for a couple of hours,” she says. “It was a wonderful experience, especially since it was included in the price of admission. You can paint at your own speed. You can sit anywhere on property and paint,” she says. “Whatever you’re in the mood to do, you can do.” The impact of that experience—in addition to a lovely memory about a friend who has since passed—is that

Trenholm now feels more comfortable pursuing her artistic side. “Discovery Sunday helped me relax enough to do it,” she says. “I was pleased enough with [the painting] that I thought, ‘Maybe I could do this.’ It made me more relaxed about trying artistic endeavors rather than just crafting.” On any given Sunday, Swap says about 15 people participate in the Discovery series, although sometimes that number inches up to 30. Warm days, he says, are the most popular. The program goes through the end of September. Painting is included in the price of admission, and no advance registration is required. Children 12 and under are free, as are people with SNAP/EBT cards. Visitors can—and do—come to more than one Discovery Sunday in a season, Swap says. “We do have repeats,” he says, citing a regular who has been painting every Sunday for about five years as just one example. Janet Reynolds is an award-winning Connecticut journalist, editor and content strategist with deep roots in alternative journalism and arts and culture magazines. Find more of her work and contact information at janetfreynolds.com.

Jackie Lefebvre Independent College Counseling • 20+ years as a college counselor and educator • BA/MA in English; taught freshman writing at Boston College and Fordham • Develop individualized college list and admissions strategy • College essay and application consultant • Athletes, artists, gap years and transfers welcome

Contact Information: jklconsult@missiontoadmission.com (800) 936-9594 april 2023 63

explorations | WEEKEND GETAWAY

weekending at the Cape

FROM SUNSETS TO HIKES TO CLAM SHACKS: SOME TRAVEL TIPS FOR A SPRINGTIME VISIT

I A view across Salt Pond from the Cape Cod National Seashore’s Visitor Center in Eastham. p hoto by Peter Marteka

magazine

by Peter Marteka

’ve been traveling to Cape Cod since I was a baby swaddled in a blanket under a beach umbrella. And when it comes to traveling to the bended arm, we are creatures of habit. We travel to the same place year after year because it’s familiar and the place we call our second home. My Cape Cod is known as the “Outer Cape”—Eastham north to Provincetown—where visitors can, to paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, stand there and put all America behind them. From Eastham, the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore to the Cape’s tip of P-town, here’s a look at what springtime visitors can enjoy—from beaches to hikes to clam shacks.

beaches

In surveys, Coast Guard is often ranked in the top 10 beaches in the nation. Beachgoers can plot out a spot on a sandbar or walk up and down the beach away from the crowds. The beach is accessible by tram or a two-mile bike trip from the visitor center.

best sunset beach Campground or Thumpertown

food

Pretty much Route 6 is your go-to place for food. The Lobster Shanty, Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar and Friendly Fisherman all claim to have the best lobster roll on the Cape.

eastham family fun

Cape Cod National Seashore’s Salt Pond Visitor Center is the best place to start your exploration of the outer bended arm. The center has several movies that showcase the human and natural history of Cape Cod as well as a gift shop, museum and staff to assist you with trip planning and the dozens of ranger-guided activities across the Outer Cape.

hikes

Fort Hill really serves as a gateway to the Outer Cape with its stunning views across Nauset Marsh out to the Nauset barrier beach. Trails take visitors around the outer edges of the field with the view always showcased to the east and north. A giant erratic boulder serves as a natural playscape for the young and young-at-heart. The 1.5-mile Nauset Marsh trail from the visitor center is also a must-see.

A sunset across the flats of Cape Cod Bay from Thumpertown Beach in Eastham.. p hoto by Peter Marteka

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explorations | WEEKEND GETAWAY

wellfleet family fun

The Massachusetts Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary gives visitors a glimpse of the many ecosystems that make up Cape Cod. Five miles of trails take visitors through pitch pine and oak forests to kettle holes to barrier beaches and tidal creeks. The award-winning “green” nature center has a gift shop along with numerous exhibits and aquariums. Programs include tidal flats explorations, birding walks and kayak trips in nearby ponds, rivers and marshes.

food

The family-owned Van Rensselaer’s has been around since 1980 and serves local seafood, American and vegetarian-friendly meals. Moby Dick’s is a Cape Cod seafood shack where visitors can bring their own beer and wine.

beaches

Marconi is the lone Atlantic-facing beach with stairs taking visitors down to the ocean. Similar to Coast Guard, visitors can tuck in with the crowds or walk north or south for some beach solitude.

best sunset beach Mayo or Duck Creek

hikes

The Great Island Trail is one of the longest and best hikes on Cape Cod. The hike includes views of the Herring River, Wellfleet Harbor and Cape Cod Bay while passing through deep pitch pine forests and across beaches. Be on the lookout for an old tavern site, Great Beach Hill and Jeremy Point Overlook. There are up to eight miles of trails, but visitors can do shorter loops. A look over the southern portion of Wellfleet’s Great Island and Wellfleet Harbor. photo by Peter Marteka

magazine

Seals rest on a sand bar at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. p hoto by Peter Marteka

E A S T LY M E

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MYSTIC

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WILLIMANTIC

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explorations | WEEKEND GETAWAY

family fun

Highland Light is Cape Cod’s oldest lighthouse and Highland Links is Cape Cod’s oldest golf course. Throw in the Highland House Museum and there’s plenty of history to explore on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse is open for tours, the golf course is public and the museum offers exhibits about the Indigenous people along with the history of the salt mill industry, the railroad and domestic crafts, such as weaving and embroidery.

hikes

The Bearberry Hill overlook offers spectacular views across the Atlantic Ocean with trails taking hikers down to the beach. Other trails will take visitors to an old boghouse used during the era of commercial cranberry harvesting.

food

Blackfish restaurant offers refined seafood dishes in a former blacksmith shop along with a bar scene. Montano’s Restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine with pasta crafted in-house along with homemade sauces, featuring local seafood and New Haven-style pizza.

truro

beaches

Head of the Meadow is not as imposing as Coast Guard or Marconi with smaller dunes. But it also doesn’t get as crowded as its southern neighbors, especially as spring turns to summer and the region fills with visitors.

best sunset beach Corn Hill

Hiking trails through the Truro dunes provide spectacular views of the Atlantic. p hoto by Peter Marteka

magazine

Lively Provincetown Harbor with the Pilgrim Monument at Provincetown Museum in the background. Photo courtesy of Provincetown Office of Tourism

family fun

Art’s Dune Tours take visitors through the Peaked Hill Bars Historic District sand dunes, a seemingly endless swath of sand along the ocean shores of town. The one-hour tour passes the famous artist dune shacks with guides sharing the history and ecology of the area.

hikes

The Province Lands bike trail loops through pine forests, sand dunes and low-lying cranberry bogs. There are spurs to both Herring Cove and Race Point beaches, as well as Bennett Pond. The trail is quite hilly in places offering great views as a reward for your effort.

beaches

Herring Cove is one of the more “developed” seashore beaches with a snack bar and evening concerts in July and August. Not a fan of big waves? Herring Cove faces southwest away from the Atlantic Ocean.

best sunset beach Race Point

food

The sky’s the limit along Commercial Street and the side streets from a Portuguese bakery to the iconic Lobster Pot to Napi’s. There are restaurants to satisfy everyone’s taste from seafood to landlubber fare.

provincetown

Peter Marteka is a freelance editor, writer and photographer. He spent 25 years as a journalist at The Hartford Courant where he wrote a popular and award-winning nature column for more than 22 years. He currently writes the hiking column “Wander” in Connecticut Magazine and is editor of Glastonbury Life and East Haddam News.

april 2023 69

interview INFLUENCERS

Ledyard. photo by Chris Carey

Q&A

get to know Amy Hannum

magazine

Amy Hannum

N E W L O N D O N - B A S E D A R T I S T, D E S I G N E R A N D R E I K I P R A C T I T I O N E R

left Amy Hannum with some of her work. Photo by Angela Angulo

By Morgan Rizzo

hildren often use their imaginations and spend their free time coloring and playing. As a child, New London-based artist Amy Hannum was into sculpting and would create figures out of Play-Doh or clay, or from her mother’s special “peanut butter play dough” recipe, constructing designs she could later eat. This memory resonates with Hannum as one of her favorite childhood pastimes and she credits it with sparking her interest in expressing her creativity. Hannum was always building little houses and creating projects. Even if there wasn’t art at the school she attended, Hannum did it on her own. Her creative childhood helped her grow into the multifaceted artist she is today.

TDM: How has your career as an artist evolved through

the years? AH: I’ve always been putting things together in a natural way. It’s really hard to kind of pin down one moment, because it seems to be a theme that’s been with me throughout my life. I went to college for interior design because I’ve always been a fan of architecture and that eventually led me to star ting my business, Paint Dragon Designs. I took classes at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and also at Rhode Island School of Design, but I would pick and choose my classes. I didn’t go for a full degree there. That just really fed into what I wanted to do.

TDM: In addition to interior design, what

other different art styles do you do? AH: My art is all over the place. I did a show at Connecticut College around five years ago, and everybody said it looked like a group show. What I do is work in series, and some people can identify and say, “That’s Amy Hannum’s work.” Some of my stuff including my Color Vibration Series is a digital print. They use colors that make your eyes jiggle a little bit. If you put green right next to red, it causes your eyes to read that information in a certain way that makes it look like it’s moving or pulsing. And, that comes from my Reiki practice.

Below Shin, from Amy Hannum’s Color Vibration Series. Photo courtesy of Amy Hannum

One of the things that has happened to me ever since I started working as a Reiki practitioner is when I lay my hands on people, their body speaks to me in a language of color. It’s almost like I’m getting an energetic reading from their body in color. So that’s where the Color Vibration Series came from.

TDM: How did you first get involved in the practice of Reiki?

AH: I’ve always been sensitive as a kid. I

always seemed to pick up information that other people didn’t know, but I didn’t know where it came from. I would tell my parents something at 5 years old, and they were like, “How do you know that?” And, I’d just know. It would be right too. When I was 19, something more definitive happened. On a whim, I saw this energy channeling class. I went to it, and the teacher looked at me and said, “You’re the grounder.” I didn’t even know what that meant. We talked a little about energy work and then we had one of the students lay on a massage table. The teacher led us through a hands-on healing process. It wasn’t Reiki, but it was another form of what is called body or energy work. Again, the teacher said, “You’re the grounder,” and I said, “What does that mean?” They told me to go stand and hold the patient’s feet. That was my first sense that I’m the conduit and the

april 2023 71

interview Are We Reaching You, an art installation and workshop, involves marine science, mindfulness and woodburning. The driftwood pieces created by Hannum’s workshop attendees are then tossed into the ocean to be found by others on distant shores. Photo courtesy of Amy Hannum

ground wire. That really started my more official journey which led into my Reiki practices.

TDM: How does this type of work inspire your art? AH: My work really comes from my environment. I really

like listening to people. It’s very coincidental, but over a short period of time, you’ll hear a lot of people talking about the same thing, or feeling the same way. Then I’ll meditate on that emotion, and I’ll get an image in my mind of a piece of artwork. I’ll just let that steer me. Usually, I can picture the artwork already finished in my mind. Then I just make it and bring it out of my mind. A lot of the time, it turns out exactly how I pictured it, and there’s no element of surprise. Sometimes I really just like to do something spontaneous and see what it turns out to be. But, for a lot of my processes, I know what it’s going to look like and just make it.

TDM: Can you talk about your global installation called Are We Reaching You? AH: I think of art as nonverbal communication, and I use a lot of text in my artwork. I wanted to remind people how important the ocean is. I was finding a lot of trash in the ocean, and I wanted people to remember how important the water is because it connects us to distant lands. We need to remember that there are other people everywhere. I wanted to encourage communication between strangers. Are We Reaching You is a combination of oceanography, marine biology, meditation and wood burning. I ended up doing this over Zoom because of COVID-19, and it actually worked out really well. I would give each participant a small piece of driftwood and a wood burning tool. I would teach people about drift studies and ocean currents and talk about marine biology and ocean science. Then I would leave them in a short meditation where I would ask them a specific question. When we came out 72

magazine

of meditation, I would ask them to burn the answer to the question into the driftwood along with the hashtag, “#arewereachingyou.” I collected all the wood burning tools and driftwood. Then I took the driftwood out on boats under the guidance of a captain, and I would go to different drop off locations as far out into the Atlantic as I could get. I would think where’s it going to end up? If you look at Instagram, you’ll see the program, but if you go to hashtag, you’ll see photographs of the driftwood that people found, and they’ll say where they found out. It turned out exactly the way I was hoping it would. It’s a global art installation because these floating pieces of driftwood are a constantly moving sculpture in the ocean.

TDM: What do you want readers to know about yourself

and your artwork? AH: I make the artwork for myself. But then once I’ve made it and put it on public display, it belongs to everyone. I like it when people are entranced by something I’ve made. When people don’t know what they’re looking at but are amazed, that is a great compliment to me. I just like to sit back and watch people interact or react to it. Amy Hannum’s work can be found on her Instagram page, @paintdragondesign, and in her Reiki office in the Dewart Building on State Street in New London. There’s also a mini gallery in the same office as Celestial Hands, Healing Arts in New London. Her work is priced and has QR codes with links to Venmo and PayPal where people can take a piece off the wall, pay for it and take it home. Morgan Rizzo is a senior at Salve Regina University with a double major in English communications and creative writing and publishing with a marketing minor. She loves watching the sunset, capturing photos for social media and spending time with her family in Westerly, Rhode Island.

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