Today Magazine • March 2021 by Bruce Deckert

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LEADING OFF

CONTENTS

Simply Lincoln

COVER STORY

4 — Moonlighting As Abraham Lincoln Canton resident Howard Wright teaches science as his day job, while portraying Lincoln to enthusiastic reviews — oh, he also grew up with Gov. Charlie Baker HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

11 — Grateful For Lincoln Journey Being a Lincoln presenter has forged strong friendships with extraordinary people, writes Howard Wright MEDICAL MUSINGS

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16 — Drone Innovation A pioneering, made-in-the-USA drone company has robust ties to the Farmington Valley QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Part of Lincoln’s greatness was that he was the first president to, in his words, “touch the issue of slavery” — Howard Wright BY THE NUMBERS

LETTERS

Lincoln inauguration: 160 years ago

BY ANY MEASURE, the tallest U.S. president is on the short list of the best leaders in American history. Abraham Lincoln, at 6-foot-4, holds the title of tallest commander-in-chief — and at 6-foot-3, Canton resident Howard Wright approximates Lincoln’s height while delivering riveting portrayals of the 16th president. A member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, Wright has given his Simply Lincoln performances since 2005, complete with stovepipe hat and precise period attire. We feature his work in this month’s cover story — see page 4. Lincoln faced arguably the most monumental challenge any president has ever encountered. The Civil War was a unique crucible, and Lincoln’s lifelong struggle with melancholy (see page 8) counterintuitively equipped him for the heartbreaking task of saving a nation torn asunder. — BWD Today Magazine • Covering the Heart of the Farmington Valley Bruce William Deckert — Publisher + Editor-in-Chief 860-988-1910 • Bruce.Deckert@TodayPublishing.net www.TodayPublishing.net > Digital Editions • Award-Winning Today Magazine Online — www.TodayPublishing.net/blog Follow Today Magazine CT on social media: Advertising — Contact the Publisher Editorial Associate — Kayla Tyson Contributing Photographer — Wendy Rosenberg Five Towns, One Aim — Exceptional Community Journalism Farmington • Avon • Canton • Simsbury • Granby – CT, USA • Two other Valley magazines: print circulation — less than 20,000 • Today Magazine: print circulation — 42,000+ • Ad Rates — about the same

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Today Magazine’s February edition took stock of our efforts here in the Farmington Valley to realize more fully the racial-equity dream Martin Luther King Jr. voiced nearly 50 years ago ____________________________________________ THE FEBRUARY EDITION is a beautiful issue. Thanks for the attention to Avon and the Avon Historical Society. Norm Sondheimer • Avon Historical Society MARTIN LUTHER KING wanted us to focus LESS on skin color. He would be very unhappy with what’s going on right now. Facebook comment TODAY MAGAZINE serves a very important role of not only providing information, but helping stitch our communities together. Thank you. David Leff • Canton Poet Laureate

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LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor are welcome. Keep them brief: 100-150 words max. We reserve the right to edit for style and space considerations. Provide your full name, hometown, email and phone number — the phone and email won’t be published, unless you request this for promotional purposes. The publisher is a political independent, and that is the editorial stance of the magazine. Letters are welcome from across the political spectrum as long as they are civil and tasteful. ____________________________________________ Today Magazine covers the heart of the Valley — the five core Farmington Valley towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury. We want to publish as much news from the Valley community as we possibly can — so email us your ideas for cover stories along with your community and business news, events, photos and more. The sky’s the limit … and our Calendar listing is free! email – newsroom@TodayPublishing.net Details – www.TodayPublishing.net/submit-news TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – MARCH 2021

COVER STORY

SIMPLY LINCOLN Canton Resident Portrays Abraham Lincoln To Enthusiastic Reviews By Bruce Deckert Today Magazine Editor-in-Chief

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MARCH 2021 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE

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EIGHT SCORE and zero years ago, this very month, Abraham Lincoln officially became the 16th president of the United States. Yes, March 4 is the 160th anniversary of Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861 — while presidential inaugurations today take place in January, in those days they occurred in March. What would it have been like to hear Lincoln speak? To be present when he delivered his famous speeches, such as the Gettysburg Address — the first line in this story is a nod to that iconic speech, which begins as follows: “Four score and seven years ago...” (one score = 20) Howard Wright has a ready answer to this question — attend one of his Simply Lincoln presentations. A Canton resident since 1986, Wright has been performing as Lincoln since 2005. “I joke that I’ll always be a newcomer since I wasn’t born here,” he says. “I lived in Avon for three years before moving to Canton.” Wright, 64, is a lifetime member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, an organization dedicated to the serious interpretation of the legendary president. ————————————————————————————— PAGE 11 — Wright: Grateful For Lincoln Journey ————————————————————————————— He is a middle school science teacher and department head at Renbrook School in West Hartford. He has spent his entire career at Renbrook, beginning in 1980, and met his wife Betsy there. She is a Simsbury native, and they have been married for 34 years. Their son and daughter are both in their 20s. Wright’s family has strong ties to the Farmington Valley. His parents lived in Simsbury for over 20 years before moving to Seabury in Bloomfield. He has four brothers, and he’s the second youngest. For many years, four of the five brothers lived in Simsbury, Granby and Canton — “so family get-togethers were easy and commonplace,” he says. One brother, Steve Wright, was a longtime teacher at The Master’s School in West Simsbury. From 2008-10, Howard Wright was appointed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell to serve as co-chair on the Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. From 2011-15, he was the exclusive Lincoln presenter for the Connecticut Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. The government’s COVID interruption has halted his Simply Lincoln performances for the time being, but as vaccinations occur and society reopens, Wright looks forward to the light at the end of the tunnel and the resumption of his dramatic work.

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In one of Lincoln’s letters — from Aug. 6, 1860 — he wrote: “Good news, from a reliable source, is always welcome.” Numerous people who have seen his riveting presidential portrayal will welcome his post-COVID presentations as good news indeed. In the following wide-ranging Q&A with Today Magazine, Wright discusses his Simply Lincoln work in-depth, explains his appreciation for Lincoln’s life and legacy, and much more. When was the first time you portrayed Lincoln? I teach middle school science at Renbrook School, an independent school in West Hartford for 3-year-olds through grade 8. I first portrayed President Lincoln in front of Renbrook School’s 8th-grade class in May 2005. They were studying the Civil War in their history class and I wanted to try out my performance in front of a “friendly audience.” It went so well that some teachers requested I repeat it that Friday after school. And lo and behold, a couple dozen stayed to watch it! I received much praise and encouragement to continue portraying Lincoln. The scientist in me asked, “OK, how close can I come to accurately portraying him, really?” I pored over a 300page book that printed every known photograph of Lincoln in order to study the details of his clothing. With the indispensable help of a fellow re-enactor, John Callahan, I was coached as to where to purchase authentic period clothing. I assembled the classic trappings of Abraham Lincoln: a black wool double-breasted frock coat, black wool pants, black vest with the exact number of buttons, a white bloused shirt with real bone buttons, a diamond-point tie that I hand-tie for every performance, leather boots, and of course the stove-pipe hat. I went through three versions of the hat until I purchased exactly what I wanted: a beaver fur hat made by the renowned

Dirty Billy’s Hats from Gettysburg, PA — it fit the exact dimensions of Lincoln’s famed hats. I also purchased a gold pocket watch and had a goldsmith shape the clasp to match the one Lincoln wore during much of his presidency. I wear contact lenses during the performances and use period-correct reading glasses when I, as “Lincoln,” read letters or speeches. Ultimately, I wanted my speaking voice to better approximate Lincoln’s. Numerous sources confirmed that Lincoln spoke slowly, with a high tenor voice, in a Kentucky accent. I learned, through audiotapes, how to speak with a Kentucky accent, and over many months I honed my speaking style by practicing in the shower and on long walks with our dog. And all through this period of time I was booked for more presentations and performances, so I was literally learning as I was performing. Is that the same year that you formally began your Simply Lincoln work? Yes, 2005. The title of my performance at Renbrook was “Simply Lincoln.” I liked it enough that I use it as my masthead online and website domain, and it’s part of my email address: hwright@simplylincoln.com Why did you decide to portray Lincoln? I love the poetic style of much of the English language. I love collecting quotes. And Lincoln’s words, in speeches and letters, are so terrifically rich. I am about his height — yielding an inch to the great man, who was 6-foot-4 — and have sported a beard since 1981. All of that combined to generate the idea that I could put together a performance where I read and recite Lincoln’s words from selected letters, speeches and miscellaneous but important quotes. I was also relieved to discover that I could memorize a fair amount of material for a performance. Most fulfilling aspect of your Simply Lincoln work? TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – MARCH 2021

There’s not just one. I started out trying to be the best Lincoln presenter in Connecticut, and I believe I have achieved that. I’ve worked hard to give folks my best impression of who Lincoln was, both as a person and as a leader. I have received praise from general audiences, Civil

On a related note, he was assassinated because he supported the notion that more people should participate by voting in our democracy; he was killed because he was in favor of a provision in Louisiana’s new state constitution that the state legislature could allow newly-freed slave men to vote

wanted to read and assess his words myself. Another challenge was learning about his life. I had to be selective as to what I read because, first of all, I wanted to read accurate information. The internet is not the place to learn about Lincoln

A classmate and boyhood friend of mine was Charlie Baker, now governor of Massachusetts — Howard Wright War re-enactors (a discerning bunch!), members of the Connecticut Civil War Round Table, the staff at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, and the Chicago committee that organized events for the three-day commissioning of the USS Illinois submarine in Groton, CT.

in elections. He was in favor of expanding the number of people who could vote, which stands in contrast to a number of states today, particularly in the South, that want to go the other way.

Further, I was the “go-to Lincoln” for Connecticut’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission from 2011-15.

There have been three big challenges: two are ongoing challenges, and the third one I’ve met and have overcome it.

Through it all, however, the most fulfilling part of my portrayal is to tell the audience the story of how, as Lincoln described himself before he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, “a boy brought up in the woods and knowing very little of this world, should be drifted into the very apex of this great event.”

The first ongoing challenge is that I knew nothing, really, about the life of Abraham Lincoln. Nothing, except the general, superficial stuff. I didn’t know where to turn.

He had impeccable integrity, unrivaled eloquence, great courage and conviction that what he was doing was right — and he beseeched Americans to more fully embrace the concept of liberty for all. In other words, when given the opportunity, he helped move those in the North to first restrict and then abolish slavery in this country.

The biggest challenge of your Simply Lincoln work, and how you meet it?

After reading a couple of books on his quotes, I learned that there is an eightvolume set of everything that Lincoln wrote or delivered in a speech: “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln” — edited by Roy P. Basler. I spent months reading everything and made careful notes when I came upon a letter or speech with a memorable and/or profound passage. I didn’t want to read anyone else’s interpretation of what Lincoln said; I

because so many people want to literally put words into his mouth. I also had to be selective because there are so many books about Lincoln – only Jesus and William Shakespeare have more books written about them. There are so many books about Lincoln to read! The third challenge was that I had to be comfortable portraying Abraham Lincoln. Who was I to play such a great, heroic, intelligent, eloquent and courageous man? It took me two years of just reciting his words during performances before I had the nerve to go “off script” and do a firstperson portrayal. Embodying my interpretation of his personality and soul took a lot of research, study and synthesis to arrive at a fairly good representation of what he could have been like. Whenever I go to a Civil War encampment or re-enactment “in the field,” Abraham Lincoln is a very easy person for me to portray: He was very down-to-earth, he was funny, and he was

“Good news, from a reliable source, is always welcome” Abraham Lincoln

MARCH 2021 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE

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so appreciative of any kindness shown to him. What do you appreciate most about Lincoln and his legacy? Michael Burlingame, an internationally renowned Lincoln scholar, summed it up so well in the closing pages of his biography, “Abraham Lincoln: A Life.” My poor attempt to summarize Lincoln’s legacy is to say that Lincoln rose to greatness despite so many things that made his rise unlikely — grinding poverty as a youth, a complicated and at times unhappy marriage, bouts of depression, and failures in business and political elections. Yet he had moral clarity, an unmatched ability to use his words for the cause of right, and a stubborn resolve to keep the United States together despite setbacks

and military and political defeats — and to not lose faith in the face of treachery from both sides of the conflict.

fortunate our country has been when it’s needed the right kind of leadership during a crisis.

His leadership qualities, eloquent speeches, pithy comments, and humorous stories and jokes have secured his place as one of the greatest of all greats in our country.

Part of Lincoln’s greatness was that he was the first president to, in his words, “touch the issue of slavery.” In helping to get the 13th amendment ratified, which abolished slavery, he brought the nation closer to the ultimate goal of true equality for all. The stain and cruelty of racial injustice continues to plague us to this day and we still have a long way to go.

Do you see Lincoln as the best president in U.S. history? That’s a hard question to answer. People ask me who was greater, Washington or Lincoln? I always answer Washington. Washington’s presence helped create the United States of America; as one biographer wrote, Washington was the country’s “Indispensable Man.” Lincoln’s lasting greatness was that he kept the Union together in the mid-19th century. These two men best illustrate how

Please rank in order your top 3-5 presidents in U.S. history. 1 — George Washington His character and leadership style allowed the framers of the U.S. Constitution to envision him as the one person who could serve as the singular head of the nation, but who would not act

TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – MARCH 2021

like a king. From the French and Indian War until his death, he was on and off the world stage for about 40 years. 2 — Abraham Lincoln Besides what I’ve written elsewhere, he believed that government could be a force for good and that government should help the people when they could not help themselves. He was able to overcome his faults and accept himself for who he was, and looked benevolently on the people of both sides of the Great War of the Rebellion. 3 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt He led the country through the trials of the Great Depression and World War II. Favorite performance anecdote: I’ve always enjoyed addressing the Union troops during re-enactments, for I deliver Lincoln’s actual words to those assembled in front of me. Lincoln’s messages to the troops often invoked the love of the Union, the justness of the cause, and the appreciation of those who were willing to leave their homes to enlist, and to those who had died fighting for the Union. A couple of years ago I was at a re-enactment in Framingham, MA, and I spied a company of soldiers drilling an hour before the event opened to the public at 10 a.m. I walked over and asked the captain for permission to speak to the soldiers. He agreed, introduced me to the troops, and I read my prepared remarks. The captain led the soldiers to cheer three times, “Huzzah!” Later that afternoon, the captain sought me out and, “breaking period” — re-enactor code for dropping the re-enactor

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Lincoln’s lifelong melancholy fueled presidential resolve THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN wrestled with depression throughout his life is well-documented. “He was a sad-looking man, gloomy, and melancholic,” according to his law partner and biographer, William Herndon. “His melancholy dripped from him as he walked.” Lincoln contended with depression for good reason — in other words, his deep sadness was exceedingly understandable when we consider the traumatic events that marked his life history. Lincoln’s mother and an aunt and uncle died from an epidemic when he was 9 years old. Ten years later, his sister perished after giving birth to a stillborn baby. Lincoln’s mother and father struggled with melancholy, according to historical records. It is widely known in the medical realm that childhood bereavement is a prime cause of a depressive condition in adulthood. As a father, Lincoln endured the death of two young sons, Eddie and Willie. Willie died in February 1862 while the nation was engulfed in the Civil War — adding private family heartbreak to the country’s traumatic conflict that claimed 680,000 lives. Medical experts and historians agree, virtually unanimously, that if Lincoln were alive today he would be diagnosed with clinical depression. Some say, however, that he would be diagnosed with bipolar disorder — along with Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, Sir Isaac Newton, Florence Nightingale, Ludwig van Beethoven and countless other historical figures. According to Joshua Wolf Shenk of The Atlantic magazine, Lincoln’s depression “spurred him, painfully, to examine the core of his soul; [his] hard work … helped him develop crucial skills and capacities, even as his depression lingered hauntingly; and [his] inimitable character took great strength from the piercing insights of depression, the creative responses to it, and a spirit of humble determination forged over decades of deep suffering and earnest longing.” In today’s political climate, “his condition would be treated as a ‘character issue’ — that is, as a political liability,” writes Shenk. “His condition was indeed a character issue: It gave him the tools to save the nation.” — Bruce Deckert

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role — he said that my speech really helped remind the soldiers why they were there. He noticed they had an extra spring in their step, an increased sense of purpose, and were more focused and dramatic during the battle engagements. I thanked the captain for his thoughtfulness in telling me! This experience is an example of the inspirational power of Abraham Lincoln’s words. A future favorite performance anecdote could include one of my ultimate goals — to perform at the White House, Ford’s Theater or President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldier’s Home. I was one of 17 Lincoln portrayers to be profiled at President Lincoln’s Cottage in 2010, so I’m making some progress. You’ve taught science at Renbrook School since 1980 — how are the disciplines of science and history connected and interrelated? I’m always motivated by the answers to two questions: “Why

MARCH 2021 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE

A signature work experience was as a seasonal interpretive guide at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT, for four years. I worked with Rich Krueger, the park geologist and director for 33 years. Rich is one of the four most impressive people I’ve ever met: a scientist, artist, educator, botanist and craftsman, to name most of his traits. I learned so much about dinosaurs and the Mesozoic Era, the fascinating geologic history of our exceptional state, and life on Earth. Oh, and how state government doesn’t always want to do things the right way, or the most intellectually sound way. What do you value most about the Farmington Valley? I value the natural beauty of the Valley. Much of that appreciation is due to how easy it is to read the landscape in terms of geology, which is a focus of a Zoom seminar I’ll be giving on April 8 as part of the lecture series inspired by the 2019 PaleoIndian site found on the Farmington River in Avon — to register, visit www.avonctlibrary.info. The seminar focuses on how easy it is to count the seven rock layers of the Connecticut Valley when you travel east from the Route 44/Route 177 intersection in Canton to Bishops Corner in West Hartford. It’s inspiring to see the beauty of the Farmington Valley’s section of the Metacomet Ridge — namely Avon Mountain and Talcott Mountain. What constructive change would you like to see in the Valley? Future development along Route 44 should focus on converting vacant storefronts into new business ventures. For instance, the concept of blasting away a section of the intrusive igneous ridge near the old La Trattoria Restaurant, potentially affecting local groundwater quality and a Superfund site, doesn’t seem worth the risk in order to create level ground for, ironically in my opinion, a sustainable energy business. And literally blowing up a section of natural beauty on the eastern boundary of Canton seems contrary to the town’s long-standing and longprofessed affection for the natural world. Jeff Schlichter – Cameo Photo Video – Canton

are things the way they are?” and “Why were things that way back then?” Both science and history answer these questions in different ways. Thus, when I read historical nonfiction or learn more about how life on Earth functions, I always try to extract and remember the answers to those two questions. Since Galileo’s time, the scientific method has enabled humankind to make great leaps in progress, such as fighting diseases. Our country’s enormous death toll from the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a lesson in what happens when government officials do not follow scientific facts and sound public health policies. People who do not want to wear masks because they mistakenly believe it infringes on their liberty might as well proclaim that they don’t believe in germ theory. A stark lesson in history as to what happens when a government ignores scientific facts (more people are likely to suffer and die) is found in the 1930s Soviet Union. Stalin supported a patently wrong agricultural plan and millions of his countrymen ended up dying of starvation. Communist China adopted the same plan in the 1950s and widespread starvation occurred there, too. Your work experience before Renbrook:

Where were you born and raised? I was born in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1956, and lived in Rutherford, NJ for the first seven years of life. I spent my formative years (1963-77) growing up in Needham, MA, a suburb right outside Boston. I was lucky to be in the Boston area during that time because many sports legends were in their prime: Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Bill Russell, John Havlicek and Carl Yastrzemski were the biggest stars. My dad built a skating rink in the backyard, and my four brothers and friends spent many hours living the dream of skating for the Boston Bruins. A classmate and boyhood friend of mine was Charlie Baker, now governor of Massachusetts. We played together after school, went to the same church, our mothers were good friends, and he taught me how to throw a baseball. We played together on two Little League teams. When I see TV clips of him, I still recognize the Charlie I once knew — an earnest, sincere fellow who’s quick with a laugh. + Howard Wright contact info: Email — hwright@simplylincoln.com Website — www.simplylincoln.com See the February edition of Today Magazine for a story on a Valley connection to John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin www.TodayPublishing.net/digital-editions TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – MARCH 2021

SCHOOL SCOOP

AVON TODAY School honors fallen alum Talcott establishes scholarship Special to Today Magazine

TALCOTT Mountain Academy has established an annual scholarship in honor of a graduate who died in a car accident. The Johnathan Hamilton Alumni Fund will provide tuition assistance for select students at the Avon-based private school that offers classes from kindergarten to 8th grade. Hamilton graduated from TMA in 2015. He was 19 and a Simsbury resident when he died in October 2020. The heartbreaking loss for the family and school community inspired an outpouring of in-memoriam contributions. TMA has used those contributions to start the fund as a tribute to Hamilton. “Establishing this fund seems like a fitting way to remember and honor Johnathan’s spirit and kind nature,” says academy dean Lydia Gibb. “While gifts received in Johnathan’s memory serve as the foundation for the fund, we hope others will be inspired to contribute to maximize the fund’s impact on students in need.” Founded in 1983 as a division of the Talcott Mountain Science Center, Talcott Mountain Academy focuses on gifted students via a unique on-site learning laboratory that nurtures their innate abilities. TMA is a nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact Gibb at 860-677-0035 or via email: lgibb@tmsc.org + www.talcottacademy.org

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See page 4 for an in-depth feature and Q&A with Canton resident Howard Wright, a middle school science teacher who has portrayed Abraham Lincoln via his Simply Lincoln initiative since 2005 —————————————————————— PORTRAYING Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, opened up the world of the reenactor to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many people through the years, and a number of them have become good friends. I’m deeply impressed with the reenactor, who must study in minute detail all aspects of a person in order to accurately embody him or her. Whether it’s learning how to accurately march, fire a musket, cook over a camp stove, or master the many chores of domestic life, I tip my hat to all of them because of the countless hours they spend researching their roles and acquiring the clothing, tools or other items needed to pull it all off. Besides my twin lodestars, John and Diane Callahan — whose help, guidance

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It’s been my privilege to wear the stove-pipe hat and reveal Abraham Lincoln’s remarkable character through his words and deeds and friendship shaped my experiences, and for that I am so grateful — I value the friendship and camaraderie of the two terrific longtime chairs of the Connecticut Civil War Round Table, Mary Lou and Blair Pavlik, and for the good cheer and excellent re-enacting skills of Dane and Carol Deleppo and Marty and Kathy Schmidt. They are all good souls. I’ve met extraordinary people during my time as Lincoln. I’m grateful to state Sen. Kevin Witkos — then a state representative for Canton and most of Avon, aka District 17 — for arranging for me to speak at the State Capitol in front of the General Assembly. He recommended that I serve as cochair of the Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (2008-10). The other co-chair was professor Michael Burlingame, an undisputed top-

ed a d Operated i

O t of Sight

tier Lincoln scholar. His two-volume biography — “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” — earned him the 2009 Lincoln Prize. We worked well together and have become friends. I take my cues from Michael’s research and judgments of Lincoln, his life and his times. I’m totally impressed with his detailed research, and it’s no wonder that Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin calls Michael a “Lincoln library unto himself.” It was such an honor for me when Michael and I — he as the scholar and I as Lincoln — teamed up and retraced Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 speaking tour through five Connecticut cities: Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Norwich and Bridgeport. Timing is everything, and fresh off the continued on page 15

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GRANBY TODAY Special to Today Magazine

TOWNS THROUGHOUT the Farmington Valley thrive on the unselfish act of volunteerism. One such example of neighbors helping neighbors is the Granby DME Loaner Closet located at Holcomb Farm in West Granby. DME stands for Durable Medical Equipment, and that term defines multiple-use equipment used to support the recovery and lifestyle needs of residents as they recover from medical circumstances. At the Granby DME, equipment is loaned on a no-cost, first-come-first-served basis through the Granby Senior Center. DME services are available to residents of Granby and nearby towns. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to borrow equipment, and the closet supports a variety of injuries and medical challenges: You may be recovering from a severely sprained ankle or a long-term hospital stay. With only two exceptions — transport wheelchairs and knee scooters — the equipment is loaned on an open return basis. Staffed by volunteers, the closet’s primary inventory consists of wheelchairs, transport wheelchairs, knee scooters and walkers (rollator, standard and two-wheeled) plus bedrails, stand-

Recovering from injury? You can borrow medical equipment for free! Simply call the Granby Senior Center at 860-844-5352 to set up a time to meet a DME volunteer

alone commodes, toilet seat risers, tub/shower transfer benches, shower seats and stools, and canes. The closet doesn’t stock crutches, equipment requiring electrical or battery hookups, or specialty items. There are no regularly scheduled hours. Simply call the Granby Senior Center at 860844-5352 to set up a time to meet a DME volunteer at the closet’s Holcomb Farm location. The Granby DME Loaner Closet got its start in 2012 at the initiative of Granby resident Jean Violette, a recently retired physical therapist and member of the Senior Center Civic Engagement Team. Sandra Yost, then-Senior Center program coordinator, took the baton of Violette’s idea, and civic team member Jim Lofink led a volunteer posse and repurposed half of the two-car garage behind the Holcomb farmhouse. An enthusiastic group cleaned out the garage, painted the interior and began to accept equipment donations in November 2012. The donated inventory grew through generous donations from the Granby Lions Club, other organizations and individuals. While there is no charge to anyone, many donations of no-longer-needed equipment and even cash have been received from appreciative continued on page 15

YOUR RESOURCE FOR RECOVERY Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy 860-693-7777 • 102 Dyer Avenue, Canton, CT 06019

We offer complete cremation services at

WELDEN HARDWARE our hometown hardware store serving all your seasonal needs Serving Simsbury and the Farmington Valley since 188 10 Station St., Simsbury • 860-658-4078 • weldenhardware.com

FARMINGTON VALLEY CREMATORY The only on-site crematory in the Farmington Valley The Vincent Family caring for yours for over a Century, since 1902 880 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT 06070 (860) 658-7613

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120 Albany Turnpike Canton, CT 06019 (860) 693-0251

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VALLEY INTEL

DME volunteers provide vital service to Valley

SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS

TULMEADOW FARM

SIMSBURY TODAY

West Simsbury

——————— By Justine Coleman ——————— Watercolor ——————— Member of Connecticut Watercolor Society, Avon Arts Association, Academic Artists Association, Kent Art Association, West Hartford Art Association ——————— Simsbury resident Email: justarts@ sbcglobal.net

Magna Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center LLC

Practices in Care Change … Our Priorities Don’t

Book Your Appointment Today!

860.679.0430

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YEARS

Emergency Service 24/7 Chris & Bryan 1983

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(860) 243-3500

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Safety, comfort, and responsiveness have always been the hallmarks of care and service at both of our facilities. We don’t take anything for granted. Today our experience enables us to sustain the high quality care these everchanging conditions require. We provide personalized post-acute and transitional care, traditional long-term care, dementia, hospice, and respite care services. Let us tell you more. Family Owned and Operated

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652 West Avon Road, Avon 860-673-2521 avonhealthcenter.com

130 Loomis Drive, West Hartford 860-521-8700 westhartfordhealth.com

VOLUNTEER VITALITY DME volunteers (L-to-R) — Judy DeNio, Marian Rowles, Duncan Rowles, Gail Kostruba, Donna Snyder, Margaret Perelli, Mike Kostruba, Sarasvati Panciera, Neil Oransoff and Karen Walther ——————————————————————————————————————————— Not pictured – Calvin Schantz, Jean Donihee-Perron, Lynn Barrigan, Nancy Brush

DME — continued from page 13 clients. As the champion of the DME Loaner Closet project, Violette served as coordinator and recruited and trained volunteers for over eight years until she moved out of Connecticut in 2020. Two DME volunteers, Karen Walther and Duncan Rowles, stepped up as co-coordinators, keeping the closet running smoothly into the future. After a loan, returned equipment is held in a quarantine area

LINCOLN — continued from page 11 bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth was the sesquicentennial of the Civil War (201115). During this time I met and befriended the two co-chairs of the commission, Matthew Warshauer of Central Connecticut State University and Marc Bassos, who oversaw all the re-enactments during. These two men are smart, socially adept and inquisitive, exuding joy in everything they do. Because of their efforts, Connecticut was the most active of the northern states in commemorating the issues associated with the Civil War, and I was requested exclusively whenever they needed a Lincoln presenter — and I was called often! I learned so much about Lincoln during this time, and I was glad that I witnessed so many men and women working together in order to educate the

until it can be disinfected by a volunteer and returned to the clean inventory. The onset of COVID-19 and the resulting protocols generated some procedural changes, but through it all the closet and its volunteers continue to serve our community. Interested in becoming a DME volunteer? Contact Walther or Rowles through the Granby Senior Center. A medical/PT/OT background isn’t required. + 860-844-5352 – www.granby-ct.gov/senior-services

public about the issues related to the Civil War. The Connecticut public should be proud and grateful for the work the commission did during the commemoration. And I was so glad that Matt and Marc and others wanted to put the slavery issue front and center — something that was unbelievably minimized if not deliberately omitted during the Civil War centennial commemorations of the early 1960s. I’ve made many friends during the years as a Lincoln presenter. No one cheers me on more than Terri and Lee Wilson of Avon, though. I first met Terri, the president of the Avon Historical Society, when she arranged for me to perform at the Avon Senior Center in 2010. Over the years, my wife Betsy and I have enjoyed their friendship, built on

trust and mutual support. Terri is sure one bundle of ideas and energy, and she’s been making all sorts of informative and educational things happen in the Farmington Valley for years. Plus, she has an excellent sense of humor and we laugh a lot. I’ll close with a favorite Lincoln quote. I’ve used this quote in many of my performances since 2012, and it has taken on a special political significance nowadays — judging from the audience’s reaction when I recite it — and here it is: “If you want to test the character of a man, give him power.” How people use power reflects their character, and it’s been my privilege to wear the stove-pipe hat and reveal Abraham Lincoln’s remarkable character through his words and deeds. + Email — hwright@simplylincoln.com Website — www.simplylincoln.com

TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – MARCH 2021

BUSINESS BEAT

DRONES CLOSE TO HOME

Pioneering drone company brings jobs, cutting-edge tech to Valley Special to Today Magazine

ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING sectors in America despite the pandemic is the drone industry — and it’s happening right here in Connecticut. Aquiline Drones is an innovative company that features commercial drones and cloud-computing services, with numerous applications across 21st-century society — including corporate enterprises, private businesses and government agencies. Based in Hartford, Aquiline Drones has strong connections to the Farmington Valley and has opened a manufacturing and assembly plant that will produce made-in-the-USA drones. Granby resident Jared Grier, an Aquiline Drones mechanical engineer, oversees the production of two primary drones — Spartacus Macks and Spartacus Hurricane — in the company’s sophisticated, state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly lab. "Growing data security concerns over foreign-manufactured technology, mainly from China, have created an immediate need for increased drone production capacity in the United States," Grier says. "Our goal is to not only position our country as a leader in the multi-billion-dollar global drone industry, but also to re-establish America's manufacturing dominance. This is in perfect harmony with our company’s powerful strategic vision of making Connecticut the drone capital of the nation.” Grier’s responsibilities include training and ensuring that his team of 25 technicians adhere to safety and compliance

— Jared Grier • A.D. engineer standards when creating and assembling drones, while ensuring that employees maintain stringent quality control throughout the production cycle in the 7,000-square-foot lab. He notes that as the demand escalates for drones and drone services, Aquiline Drones plans to add a second shift of production workers, moving into a larger facility and sourcing drone components from American-only suppliers. Simsbury resident Alisa Picerno is the chief communications officer for Aquiline Drones. She manages, promotes and publicizes organizational news and industry updates related to the fast-growing company. What is most unique about Aquiline Drones, Picerno says, is that its leadership consists of veteran airline pilots, aerospace engineers and distinguished military personnel, including retired Air Force generals. The company is run like an airline, and has acquired the assets of a small airline, making it one of just four drone companies in the U.S. to own a Federal Aviation 16

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Administration (FAA) 135 Air Carrier Certificate. The others are Amazon Prime Air, UPS and Google’s Alphabet Wing. “At the very basic level, drones are miniature aircraft,” Picerno notes. “The entire Aquiline Drones team understands drones’ complex nature and the rules governing their operation. Aquiline also understands and works closely with the FAA to promote safety and to protect the public. This gives us an extreme edge over our competition and has become our unique selling proposition.” Picerno says that drones provide specific solutions for a variety of industries — including asset inspection, agriculture, forestry, health and medical, public safety, emergency response, law enforcement and delivery service. A recent FAA decision has advanced and expanded commercial drone operations with regards to package deliveries, with the goal of maintaining strict safety standards. Future plans for Aquiline Drones include introducing a proprietary modular manufacturing process, utilizing 3D printing and agile workstation cells, that can be scaled quickly and inexpensively to meet production demand. Picerno notes that this drone-production approach allows individuals, businesses and the military to build drones on the fly — from the basement of one’s home to the military battlefront. In addition, the company plans to launch its Drone-onDemand (DoD) mobile app this year. Like Uber or Lyft, DoD will be accessible via smartphones and tablets, enabling customers to request drone services on-demand anytime and nationwide.

Courtesy Photos

“Our goal is to not only position our country as a leader in the multi-billion-dollar global drone industry, but also to re-establish America’s manufacturing dominance”

Aquiline Drones CEO Barry Alexander

Further, Aquiline Drones is preparing to unveil the first public drone showroom in America in downtown Hartford this summer — so people can experience drones firsthand and purchase and repair multiple drone models. "We are delighted,” says Picerno, “to be establishing ourselves as the [leading] domestic manufacturer in this terrific industry, building an entire drone ecosystem, pushing the limits of technology development, and delivering useful capabilities previously unimagined or never before seen.”

Aquiline Drones also offers a Flight to the Future program that trains people who want to become professional drone operators — in other words, yes, you can become a drone pilot and establish your own drone business. The pilot training includes FAA certification, equipment and access to drone job opportunities. This is good business news for Farmington Valley residents and others whose employment has been impacted by the COVID shutdown. + www.aquilinedrones.com

Gifts of Love appoints Wealth advisers obtain honor board members Three Farmington Valley residents have joined the Gifts of Love board: Chris Thomas of Avon and Sean Riley and Robert Wong, both of Simsbury. Riley, a VP with Kelley Management Consulting, has been associated with Gifts of Love since 2009. He is also involved with Favarh and the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce. Thomas, a retired VP with MW Industries, has been connected with Gifts of Love since 2014 and serves on the Farm Committee. He is also on the board of Mental Health Connecticut. Wong, a director with Prudential Financial, has been an active volunteer for Gifts of Love. He and his family have volunteered for the backpack program, at the Gifts of Love Farm and at the main office in Avon. He also volunteers for other area nonprofits.

Tunxis prof nabs award

Two local residents have been honored with the Five Star Wealth Manager Award from Five Star Professional. Denis M. Horrigan of Simsbury is a partner with Connecticut Wealth Management. Megan Trask of Granby is a manager with the Farmington firm.

VNA promotes Scheetz The Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association has promoted Nancy Scheetz to CEO. Since 1908, the VNA has provided in-home health care services and community-based wellness programs to local residents, regardless of insurance limitations or ability to pay.

A Tunxis Community College professor has received an Innovative Program of the Year Award from the national High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI TEC). Dr. Karen Wosczyna-Birch is one of three individuals to receive awards in separate categories for innovations in advanced technology education and contributions to the training of today’s technology workforce. The Innovative Program Award recognizes those who have a positive impact on enrollment and retention in advanced technology programs. Wosczyna-Birch is director of the CT College of Technology and executive director of the Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ADVERTISE with TODAY MAGAZINE Valley-Best Circulation • 860-988-1910

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FUN FLAMINGO FACTS

Photos by Wendy Rosenberg

• The flamingo is the national bird of The Bahamas • Flamingos are fond of water, living in and around lagoons or lakes • A flock of flamingos is called a “flamboyance” ... yes, really — and how appropriate!

How can we know these facts are actually ... facts? If you answer this riddle definitively, you may receive a lifetime subscription to this magazine: newsroom@TodayPublishing.net

BONUS GOLD One fun goldfinch fact: There are just three species of goldfinches in the world

TODA MAGA INE rint irc lation — Other Two Valley Mags rint irc lation — le than Ad rates are about the same THE ONL TRUE FARMINGTON VALLE MAGA INE We mail to Granby, but the other Valley mags don’t

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WELDEN HARDWARE our hometown hardware store serving all your seasonal needs Serving Simsbury and the Farmington Valley since 188 10 Station St., Simsbury • 860-658-4078 • weldenhardware.com

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Health Care Center

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Practices in Care Change … Our Priorities Don’t

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