Today Magazine • March 2024

KNEE-DEEP DEER

• Earlier this winter, a white-tailed deer is knee-deep in snow — and then some — on the patio of a Canton backyard

• Deer often move less during winter to use less energy, per the AdirondackAlmanack.com

• During periods of deep snow, deer may migrate temporarily to dense conifer stands that protect them from wind and also hold in heat

Photo by Wendy Rosenberg

CONTENTS

4 — Restaurant Renaissance

Two new restaurants in the center of Simsbury appear to be evidence that the local economy is finding a way through the lingering COVID fog

8 — Eatery Inventory

Today’s editor shares a snapshot of Valley eateries and some morsels related to his restaurant history

12 — Exclusive Foodie View

COVID wreaked havoc on the state’s restaurant industry but a rebound is in the works, per this CEO

16 — Privileged Panorama

Presenting the stellar work of two award-winners side by side — one an artist, the other a photog

“ We have some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world — our job is to create opportunities to highlight these stories ” — CEO Scott Dolch

BY

8600-plus — Restaurants in CT

LETTERS

FEBRUARY EDITION KUDOS

LEADING OFF Restaurant Roundup

IS THERE ANYONE in our collective human community known as planet Earth who doesn’t enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with care and skill? Stated more succinctly and simply — do you appreciate a good meal prepared by someone else? Let’s presume that everyone answers yes.

Here’s a logical follow-up question: Do you prefer a home-cooked meal or a restaurant meal — or are these two options about equal for your palate? Yet there are other considerations besides the palate issue, such as price. Whenever my family has frequented a Farmington Valley eatery, I’ve sought a cost-effective approach when possible: a buy-one-entreeget-one-free offer or a clipped coupon or an Entertainment Book discount.

For me, anyway, the time-honored parental saying has surely applied: Money doesn’t grow on trees! Via our coverage of Valley restaurants this month, we answer some questions, while others beckon — so the end-of-story teaser applies: to be continued … 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

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Editorial Associate — Kayla Tyson

Contributing Photographer — Wendy Rosenberg

Five Towns • One Aim — Exceptional Community Journalism

Farmington • Avon • Canton • Simsbury • Granby – CT • USA

newsroom@TodayPublishing.net

Our February cover story highlights a local VFW’s redemption mission via an Afghan refugee project

— CLICK HERE for our coverage

YOUR ARTICLE on the VFW refugee project was excellent — I have sent the article to several friends. Thank you so much for helping us get the word out on this worthy project.

— Brian O’Donnell • Avon-based VFW Post 3272

Facebook Comment

BY ALL MEANS they should be brought right in without question if they provided safety for our military while in their country — Cheryl Bermani McCann

THIS COVER is hauntingly similar to the famous June 1985 National Geographic cover! This photograph on your cover has a compelling, tender beauty — well done.

— Nancy Lehman • Simsbury

That National Geographic cover features an Afghan refugee from the Soviet-Afghanistan war — here are the covers side by side:

ODALYS BEKANICH

Associate Broker

Five Star Professional Award-Winning Real Estate Agent

860-965-3652 • CELL 860-676-1200 • OFFICE

odalys.bekanich@cbmoves.com

290 West Main Street Avon, CT 06001

Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC

RESTAURANT REBIRTH

Eateries Seek Post-COVID Surge

By Lisa Natcharian Special to Today Magazine

THE UNPRECEDENTED pressure of the COVID pandemic forced a rash of business closures across Connecticut, resulting in a forlorn array of empty commercial spaces and eerily quiet downtowns.

To the delight of local residents, the tide has finally turned in Simsbury and a new wave of eager entrepreneurs are preparing innovative and vibrant ideas to energize the historic center of town.

In the Fiddler’s Green shops, at the intersection of Hopmeadow and Wilcox Streets, two unconventional new restaurants are set to replace Joe Pizza and McLadden’s Irish Pub next month.

Grassroots Ice Cream & Street Food

At 2 Wilcox Street, Grassroots Ice Cream & Street Food is slated to bring its wildly popular and locally handcrafted ice cream to town in April — along with a unique menu of globally-inspired small plates, sandwiches and snacks.

Launched in 2013 in the former Granby General Store, Grassroots will boast three brick-and-mortar locations across Connecticut — in Granby, New Milford and now Simsbury — plus two ice cream trucks.

The new space at Fiddler’s Green boasts a dine-in restaurant plus a dedicated takeout area with grab-and-go pints, catering and pickup options.

The Grassroots menu features over 100 flavors of ice cream, ranging from the quasi-traditional (Salted Caramel, Thin Mint Cookie, Vanilla Godzilla) to the daring (Honey Lavender, Goat Cheese Blackberry, Rose Chocolate Chip). Owners Mark and Jenn Sproule proudly proclaim that their ice cream is made locally and contains no artificial colors. Dairy-free ice cream, made from coconut milk and oat milk, is also available.

Blossom Café

Blossom Café at 6 Wilcox Street is also scheduled to open in April. A chic Asian fusion brunch-style restaurant, Blossom will transport guests to the lush and vibrant world of East Asia.

Incorporating the flavors and culinary techniques of Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes into American breakfast classics, this innovative and trend-setting café will feature unique specialties like Japanese soufflé pancakes, Hong Kong french toast, Karaage chicken and waffles, and Asian-inspired Sandos (sandwiches) alongside traditional favorites like bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, avocado toast and healthy bowls.

Owners Amanda Liu and Albert Zhang plan to leverage their backgrounds in economics and visual art to create a unique destination for foodies from all over New England

To elevate the brunch experience, a creative drinks menu will feature fun cocktails and mocktails like flavored mimosas, Asian pear mules, lychee martinis and yuzu lemonade along with café classics like matcha tea, coffee and juices.

Owners Amanda Liu and Albert Zhang, residents of Farmington, plan to leverage their backgrounds in economics and visual art to create a unique destination for foodies from all over New England. Both partners are legacy restaurateurs, members of families who have run successful restaurants in Greater Hartford for decades.

Jenn’s brother Brandon Pappalardo, a Simsbury resident, is the much-acclaimed chef behind the unique Grassroots menu.

After years on the Dallas food scene, he brings his own stamp to the intriguing lunch/dinner menu inspired by street food from around the world — including wraps, tacos and salads, alongside twists on traditional favorites like New England poutine featuring waffle fries, bacon and cheddar topped with house-made clam chowder, and BBQ grilled cheese topped with Carolina BBQ pulled pork on sourdough bread.

Grassroots at Fiddler’s Green is expected to launch the first week in April, and to be open seven days a week — hours TBD • www.grassrootsicecream.com

The café’s chic decor is inspired by the Japandi style, a fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian warmth. Featuring cream-colored seating accented with light wood tones, contrasting with a profusion of lush greenery and elegant gold lighting fixtures, Blossom Café aims to become both an Instagrammable destination and a favorite gathering space for adventurous diners.

Expected to launch the first week in April, Blossom Cafe plans to be open seven days a week — from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • www.blossom-cafe.com

The Coffee Spot

Grassroots and Blossom Cafe will join The Coffee Spot, a new Simsbury favorite that opened at Fiddler’s Green in March 2021.

This popular coffeehouse, the brainchild of Simsbury residents Amy and Jay Sheehan, has grown from a cozy spot to enjoy fair-trade artisan coffee, loose-leaf teas and in-house

Amanda Liu and Albert Zhang are the owners of Simsbury-based Blossom Café, slated to open in April — this image is a combination of a photo from last year and a photo taken last month

ON THE COVER — Blossom Café owners Amanda Liu and Albert Zhang in front of the Fiddler’s Green entrance Courtesy Photos — Fiddler’s Green

The Fiddler’s

part of the plaza fronts Hopmeadow

aka Route 10 — four historic buildings

linked by new construction to forge Fiddler’s Green

baked goods, to a neighborhood gathering place that hosts live music, author talks, artisan workshops and weekend craft fairs.

On Saturday, April 20, The Coffee Spot will host a Bridgerton-inspired “Buryton Ball” to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This black-tie event will feature ballroom dancing, horse-and-carriage rides, tea tasting, Bridgerton trivia, a silent auction and optional period costumes.

The Coffee Spot is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.thecoffeespot.net

Fiddler’s Green

This landmark property in the center of Simsbury was created from a collection of historic homes and buildings to become a thriving commercial plaza.

Fiddler’s Green is home to 11 eclectic businesses — the above three eateries plus Sew Inspired Quilt Shop, Prescott Construction, Phase Zero Architects, Peterdominic Salon & Spa, Leader Bank, therapist Sharon Eastman and two private consultants.

Four historic buildings were connected by new construction to create Fiddler’s Green.

The Victorian building housing The Coffee Spot was built in 1891 for state senator Alexander Pattison. Next door, the house that was once Joe Pizza was the home of the Wilcox family, who launched a general store in the adjoining buildings on Wilcox Street.

In the back of the property, a large stone barn built in 1909 once held a garage, and then a store. At one time there was even an opera house on the property!

The stone barn has since become a restaurant space, previously occupied by the popular Sakimura hibachi restaurant, and most recently the shortlived Roux Cajun Eatery. Vacated at the end of 2023, the barn awaits its latest incarnation as the flood of entrepreneurial ideas into Simsbury continues. Will your idea be next? +

www.fiddlers-green-simsbury.com

• Lisa Natcharian and her husband Matthew have owned the Fiddler’s Green plaza since December 2016

• She has been a frequent freelance writer for media outlets such as the Boston Globe, MassLive.com and the Springfield Republican

• Lisa is also the creative inspiration for The Storyteller’s Cottage, a unique literary-themed initiative that she founded in 2017 in the Victorian house currently occupied by The Coffee Spot — after COVID hit in 2020, she closed the physical location and pivoted to an online model

• www.storytellerscottage.com

Reports have indicated that brick-and-mortar commercial plazas were impacted significantly by the COVID shutdown — at the Fiddler’s Green complex in Simsbury center, three restaurants closed during COVID

new eateries

are slated to debut in April and the third restaurant

is still vacant, as evidenced by the blank business sign at the top of the collective Fiddler’s Green signage

The Grassroots menu features over 100 flavors of ice cream, ranging from the quasi-traditional to the daring — owners Mark and Jenn Sproule proudly proclaim that their ice cream is made locally and contains no artificial colors

Two

— Blossom Café and Grassroots Ice Cream & Street Food —

space

Restaurant Reminiscence

By Bruce William Deckert Today Magazine • Editor-in-Chief

MY RESTAURANT HISTORY in the Farmington Valley is directly connected to my family. I met a Valley girl at Gordon College in Massachusetts — she was a West Simsbury resident at the time, and we married the year after we graduated.

Born and bred in New Jersey, I moved to Connecticut the summer we wed, after I was hired as a publicrelations professional and English teacher at The Master’s School in West Simsbury — where she was already teaching. Early in our marital journey, we welcomed a son and daughter to forge a family foursome.

So virtually all of my local restaurant memories are connected to her and our family.

Here’s a short list of our family’s go-to restaurants in the Farmington Valley: Antonio’s, Bertucci’s, Boston Market, Friendly’s and Ninety Nine. Another Valley-related restaurant tidbit: In high school and college, my

BUSINESS BEAT FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN THE VALLEY

Valley girl was a part-time waitress at the Abdow’s Big Boy in Avon.

Five years ago, after a long-term marriage voyage, she decided time was up. She was done, over and out. Our relationship had plenty of ups and downs, as is the case in every real-world marriage I’m aware of — but evidently our sometimes sickening roller-coaster ride overcame her hopes for bliss and impacted her perception of our thrill fulfillment and joy-seeking potential.

We were faithful to each other, weathering many storms together, yet she filed for divorce in 2019 and achieved her objective.

To me, her decision was shellshocking, and the past five years have been heartbreaking and surreal in significant ways. To date, she remains the most amazing woman I’ve known — and the only one I’ve known in the biblical sense — yet I’m moving forward

PATIENT-CENTERED CARE ALWAYS OUR TOP PRIORITY

Safety,

SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION

My experience with restaurants in the Farmington Valley is marked by a clear demarcation

Siobhan Murphy is the manager and head baker in Simsbury — Amy Sheehan owns the establishment

the proverbial one day at a time. By the way, when the divorce went down, our son and daughter were college grads and moving on with their own lives.

So my experience with restaurants in the Farmington Valley is marked by a clear demarcation — the many worthwhile years when our family was intact and the half-decade since then.

Following is a Valley eatery history of me and my family via an alphabetical-order list of 30-plus restaurants — a few places on this list

have since closed their doors and are thus noted. Before launching into the list, a few housekeeping details:

• In the following restaurant roll call, I’m providing a snapshot of my reminiscence or impression of the eatery in 10 words or less •

• The Connecticut Restaurant Association defines a restaurant as any establishment that serves guests in a breakfast, lunch and/or dinner setting •

• Acronym Note — COC refers to a

baker at The Coffee Spot establishment

LaSalle Market & Deli is a celebrated community center in the heart of Collinsville, a distinct village in Canton

local Chamber of Commerce • N.E. refers to New England • Specific state abbreviations are per U.S. Post Office protocol •

• For restaurant chains, only Farmington Valley locations are noted •

• Today Publishing covers the heart of the Farmington Valley via community news that matters nationwide — focusing on the towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury •

• Restaurant Snapshots •

Abdow’s Big Boy

Valley location: Avon • closed A college romance in MA — NJ boy meets CT girl who waitressed at Abdow’s — leads to a remarkable up-and-down real-life and real-world marriage relationship and family in the Farmington Valley •

• The Abdow’s chain was sold to Bickford’s — Bickford’s Avon location was later closed •

• Number-and-Word Alert — yes, you’re right, I’ve violated my own 10-word limit on the very first entry in this list ... mea culpa •

• However, my long-haul marriage and my family are worth far more to me than a legalistic word count — and in my book, my marriage and family transcend any mere human court’s definition of the terms marriage and family •

Amici Italian Grill – Avon Constructive family-connected heart-to-heart: I saw the change

• Amici also has a Middletown location

Andy’s Italian Kitchen – Simsbury COC After Hours host — scrumptious appetizers and entrees

Antonio’s – Simsbury Tasty Italian food plus historic memorabilia and throwback decor Bertucci’s

Valley location: Avon • closed Terrific pizza, pasta, rolls — N.E.-to-VA chain — surprised Avon location closed Boston Market

Valley location: Avon • closed Family-friendly chain eatery where fast food meets homestyle meals

Burger Fi – Avon High-end fast-food chain plus book talk

Cambridge House Brew Pub –Granby – COC event — keeping it real with real food, real beer

Chili’s – Simsbury

Nationwide chain — my non-spicy palate avoids picante dishes

The Coffee Spot – Simsbury

Welcoming atmosphere for meeting COC colleagues — formerly the Storyteller’s Cottage

Dish ‘n Dat – Canton

Once located at FV Shops — today, still on Route 44

Dom’s Coffee – Avon

Hotspot for hot beverages, warm breakfasts and lunches, cool conversation

First & Last Tavern – Avon

Classic Italian-accented menu plus a biblically-connected name

Friendly’s – Avon

East Coast chain: NJ Dad dinners, CT father-son + father-daughter talks

Harvest Cafe – Simsbury

Delicious brunches and a favorite when Mom aka Grammy visited

Hot Heaven Pizzeria – Avon

Takeout fave for — you guessed it — superb pizza

Joe Pizza – Canton

See previous Hot Heaven entry

LaSalle Market & Deli – Canton

Galvanizing vibe and community gathering place in heart of Collinsville

Little City Pizza – Avon

Anchor at Riverdale Farms plaza featuring paninis and, yes, pizza

Little Oak Cafe — Canton

Scrumptious food plus beneficial COC conversation

Lisa’s Luna Pizza – Simsbury

Same ownership as — no surprise here — Collinsville-based Lisa’s Crown & Hammer

Main Moon – Simsbury

Great Chinese food — post-church takeout Sundays on Arrowhead Drive

McDonald’s – Simsbury

No explanation needed for global brand: billions and billions served

Metro Bis – Simsbury

Complimentary financialplanning dinner and seminar hosted by Financial Vision

Millwright’s – Simsbury

Celebrity chef Tyler Anderson plus historic mill built in 1680

Ninety Nine Restaurant

Valley location: Avon • closed

Family-friendly and flavorful N.E.-and-NY chain — surprised this location shuttered

Panera Bread – Canton

Popular U.S.-Canada chain eatery with pleasing ambiance, palatable food

Papacelle – Avon • closed

Husband-wife night out with bonus of dinner gift card

Plan B – Simsbury

Hartford-area chain featuring burgers and beverages — plus helpful COC talk

Puerto Vallarta – Avon

Haven’t visited CT chain, yet my son has — ex-Abdow’s site

Red Stone Pub – Simsbury

Hospitable and homey with owners who value community volunteerism

Starbucks –

Avon • Farmington: Route 4 • Farmington: Westfarms Mall • Granby • Simsbury

Popular worldwide coffee chain that also serves breakfast and lunch

Subway – Canton • Farmington • Granby • Simsbury

Excellent healthy alternative to conventional fast-food fare — nationwide chain

@ The Rooftop

Canton • opening date TBD

Newest offering from Zen Restaurant Group — slated for 2024 debut

• The only place on this list that hasn’t opened yet — after serendipitously meeting owner James Chen at the Canton site, I said I’d mention his newest venture in Today Magazine — the Zen Group currently has four restaurants in Granby and one in Simsbury +

/\ Harvest Cafe in Simsbury

Little City Pizza in Avon \/

For Loyal Restaurant Following, Customer Service Is Essential

Special to Today Magazine

FOUNDED IN 1961, the Connecticut Restaurant Association is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to supporting all types and sizes of restaurants statewide.

The CRA acts as an advocate for the Connecticut restaurant industry, providing key information and a platform for networking.

Scott Dolch is the CRA’s president and CEO — following is an exclusive 10-question interview with Dolch conducted via email by Today Magazine editor-in-chief Bruce Deckert:

1 — What is the definition of a restaurant — is a restaurant defined by the time an establishment opens, or whether it serves dinner, or whether it serves both lunch and dinner, or is there another criteria?

I’ve been visiting restaurants throughout my life, yet this simple question has (believe it or not) never

The Coffee Spot offers tasty desserts

occurred to me before — here’s hoping you can shed some light, as your organization defines the term. We consider a restaurant any establishment that serves guests in a breakfast, lunch and/or dinner setting — so a breakfast diner to a quickservice fast food location to a finedining dinner location. As an industry we also service caterers and private event venues.

2 — Is there ever a situation where coffee shops that serve breakfast and lunch could be considered a restaurant? Yes, they are considered a restaurant!

3 — How many restaurants are in Connecticut? And how many restaurants are in the Farmington Valley — the towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury?

Connecticut has over 8600 locations around the state —unfortunately, we don’t know how many restaurants are in just the Farmington Valley area.

4 — How many patrons frequented Connecticut restaurants in 2023 — and how much money did patrons spend at Connecticut restaurants in 2023?

We don’t know specific patron questions, but we do know that our industry generated $11.1 billion in 2023 for Connecticut and we have over 145,000 employees in the state.

5 — What factors can make a restaurant exceptional?

For a restaurant to be exceptional, I feel the customer service it provides is at the core.

We are the hospitality industry, and giving patrons a great experience — whether that be the food/drinks, ambiance or experience when inside a restaurant, or even the experience when ordering takeout or pickup — is so important.

A successful restaurant has to build a brand of repeat customers and a loyal following, but it also needs to understand managing a team, balancing expenses and pricing items correctly.

Our goal at the CRA is to assist restaurants as trends in our industry are always changing, and we are there to guide these restaurants.

6 — How many restaurants in Connecticut closed and didn’t reopen after the COVID shutdown in 2020?

More than 1000 restaurants closed permanently in that first year of the pandemic. We have been fortunate to see a lot of new restaurants open since, but many of

Grassroots Ice Cream + Street Food debuted in Granby in 2013 — a new location is slated to open come April in Simsbury

the closures were landmark locations that had been around for decades.

7 — Since takeout became an option soon after COVID hit, why didn’t all Connecticut restaurants survive the shutdown — in other words, why weren’t all restaurants in the state able to reopen after the COVID shutdown ended?

Takeout is only one revenue source for a restaurant to be profitable. While it helped a lot of restaurants survive COVID, it unfortunately didn’t save everyone.

Takeout worked extremely well for pizza, burgers and most casual food — but a fine-dining establishment still to this day is finding challenges with takeout, as most customers aren’t looking to pay high-end prices for takeout.

It is a different experience when you go inside these places and have a special meal like an anniversary, Valentine’s Day and other celebrations.

Restaurants work off very thin margins, as the national average for a

restaurant’s profitability is 3% to 5% — this number is during normal times, so you can understand how the pandemic caused many restaurants to lose a lot and be forced to shut down, never having the strong finances to reopen.

8 — How many awards have Farmington Valley restaurants received from the Connecticut Restaurant Association — the specific restaurants, and the year the award was given?

• CT Hospitality Hall of Fame

Apricot’s • Farmington

• 2014 Winner – Chef of the Year Tyler Anderson•Millwright’s•Simsbury

• 2018 + 2019 Winner – North Region Restaurant of the Year Present Company • Tariffville

• 2019 Winner – Chef of the Year

Jeff Lizotte • Present Company • Tariffville

• 2021 Finalist – Pastry Chef of Year Chan Graham • BouNom Bakery • Avon

• 2021 Finalist – Chef of the Year Ashley Flagg • Millwright’s • Simsbury

• 2021 Winner – Restaurant of the Year Millwright’s • Simsbury

We

• 2021 Winner – Pastry Chef of Year

Kristin Eddy • Millwright’s • Simsbury

• 2023 Finalist – Pastry Chef of Year

Kim Hoang Wood • Le Banh Patisserie

• 2023 Finalist – Bartender of the Year Shannon Ciralli • Market Place • Avon

9 — Among your staff, what are your favorite restaurants?

We can’t answer this as our association doesn’t have favorites — we love all of our restaurants equally!

10 — Is there a burning question connected to restaurants that your organization has never been asked before, but that you’d like to answer?

In addition to advocating at the state Capitol for the industry and being a resource for our restaurants to help them with their business everyday, our other goal at the association is to continue to put Connecticut on the regional, national and international map in culinary. We have some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world! Our job is to create opportunities to highlight these stories and that is why the CRAzies Awards were created, as

Simsbury-based Millwright’s Restaurant has received four awards from the Connecticut Restaurant Association — the most among Farmington Valley restaurants

we work hard to recognize the best of the best in the state. After five years of hosting this event, and a record crowd of more than 1400 at Foxwoods in December, we can honestly say that we are on that path.

We also have seen many of our winners receive national recognition from the James Beard Foundation — 2022 Chef of the Year Renee Touponce of The Port

of Call in Mystic, 2023 Chef of the Year finalist David Standridge of Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, and 2023 Restaurant of the Year Coracora of West Hartford — chef Tyler Anderson of Millwright’s in Simsbury has been a semifinalist in the past for the James Beard Awards. We are hopeful for more Farmington Valley restaurants to be recognized. +

Our other goal at the association is to continue to put Connecticut on the regional, national and international map in culinary

Laura Eden feature – Today Magazine – CLICK HERE

After The Rain Egg Tempera

By Laura Eden

The EDEN File — Award-winning artist Laura Eden has been painting since age 5 — Granby resident — Granby Artists Association — born in Hartford and raised in Bloomfield — graduate of Watkinson School and UConn: bachelor of fine arts — artwork in 1400+ private and corporate collections — egg tempera paint mixes egg yolk with powdered pigments and water — www.lauraedenart.com

OWL EYE-OWIE

• This northern saw-whet owl — by the name of Nutmeg — was photographed circa 2019 at Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton

• Nutmeg’s right eye was somehow impaired — juvenile saw-whet owls are known for a prominent light-colored V between their eyes

• A Roaring Brook rep said this month that Nutmeg no longer resides there — but RBNC staff care for other owls and many more animals

Photo by Wendy Rosenberg

MINI MARSUPIAL

• The opossum is a marsupial (or pouched mammal) and is related to other marsupials such as the kangaroo and koala — infant marsupials are born incompletely developed and are typically carried and suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly

• After 11-13 days in the womb, embryonic opossum infants are so small at birth that 20 could fit into a teaspoon, per the Opossum Society of U.S. website

• There are over 250 marsupial species and 65 opossum species, but only one is native to North America — this possum was captured figuratively in Canton by our award-winning contributing photographer Double Take — If you perused the February issue of Today Magazine and wonder if perhaps you’re seeing double, you are correct — this photo appeared in February, but the caption info was difficult to read due to technical difficulties — so the management is glad to publish this image again for two reasons:

1 — Clear communication that follows an unclear message is a welcome breath of fresh air, in our book

2 — This is one cute possum — so why not run the photo again for that reason alone, right?

Photo by Wendy Rosenberg

2024 series sponsored by a grant from

MARCH 7 MAY 9

The History of Native American Archaeology in Connecticut, presented by Nicholas Bellantoni, emeritus state archaeologist with the UCONN State Museum of Natural History and adjunct associate research professor in the Department of Anthropology. He will take the audience through the history of archaeology in CT bringing it up to present day with new discoveries and the process during the work at the Brian D Jones Site.

APRIL 11

Bioarchaeology in North America: Ethics, Issues and Where the Field Stands in 2024, presented by Alex Garcia-Putnam, PhD, University of New Hampshire. He will talk about the field, basics of bioarchaeology, the lack of skeletal remains found in the United States and some of the reasons for, and implications of, that lack of data.

Foraging in the Paleoindian Period: A Macrobotanical Analysis

(tentative title), presented by Katharine Reinhart, Project Archaeologist/Botanical Analyst, Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc, Storrs, CT. She will focus on the analysis of plant evidence from various sites to learn what they ate and where they found it

Microscopic Evidence for the Manufacture and Use of Stone Artifacts, presented by G. Logan Miller, Assoc. Prof. Anthropology, Illinois State University.

OCT. (tbd)

Update on the Brian D. Jones site in Avon, CT since discovery in 2019 presented by the team at Archaeological and Historical Services, Storrs, CT. October is Archaeology Month in Connecticut, so this presentation will be 90 minutes with time after for Q&A.

• These advertising sponsors have seen the value of investing in Today Magazine’s award-winning journalism as we cover the heart of the Farmington Valley and aim to record the Valley’s underreported upside •

• If you have paid for a recurring advertisement with Today Magazine but don’t see your business or organization listed, send an email so you can be added to our Advertiser Hall of Fame — advertise@todaypublishing.net •

Anthology Senior Living — 860-546-8037 — Simsbury www.anthologyseniorliving.com > Location

Avon Health Center — 860-673-2521 — Avon www.avonhealthcenter.com

Avon Historical Society — 860-678-7621 — Avon www.avonhistoricalsociety.org

A Teen Edge — 860-593-2822 www.ateenedge.com

Board and Brush — 860-392-8567 — Simsbury www.boardandbrush.com/simsbury

Canton Barn LLC — 860-693-0601 — Canton www.cantonbarn.com

Canton Food Bank — 860-693-5811 — Canton www.townofcantonct.org

Carmon Funeral Homes — 860-673-8610 www.carmonfuneralhome.com

Carol Cole Real Estate — 860-212-0687 — Canton www.carolcolerealestate.com

Cherry Brook Health Care Center — 860-693-7777 — Canton www.cherrybrookhcc.com

Christensen Insurance — 860-651-8236 — Simsbury www.insuranceagentswhocare.com

Christopher Bryant Co. — 860-243-3500 — Bloomfield www.thechristopherbryantcompany.com

Collinsville Bank — 860-693-6935 — Canton www.collinsvillebank.com

Connecticut Dance Academy — 860-707-4198 — Canton www.ctdanceacademy.com

Connecticut Headshots — 860-263-9277 — Avon www.connecticutheadshots.com

Dynamic Auto Works — 860-693-6359 — Canton www.facebook.com/DynamicAutoCanton

Erica Maglieri: Realtor — 860-324-6842 bhhsneproperties.com/real-estate-agent/757/erica-maglieri

Fresh Start Pallet Products — 860-266-5726 — Hartford www.freshstartpalletproducts.org

Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce — 860-651-7307 www.simsburycoc.org

Green Door Restaurant — 860-693-9762 — Canton www.41bridgestreet.com

Habitat for Humanity — 860-541-2208 — Hartford www.hfhncc.org

Harris Home Improvement — 860-817-7191 — Granby www.harrishomeimprovement.net

Hartford Symphony Orchestra — 860-246-8742 — Hartford www.hartfordsymphony.org

HealthMarkets Insurance — 860-307-1128 — Torrington www.healthmarkets.com — Mel Brickman

Hulme & Sweeney Pianos — 860-408-4895 — Simsbury www.hulmesweeneypianoservice.com

Karedigs.com — 860-379-4340 — Barkhamsted www.karedigs.com

Kerian Home Health Care — 860-851-6267 — Simsbury www.keriancares.com

Kevin Witkos: State Senator

Landscape Solutions — 860-329-2014 — New Hartford www.landscapesolutionsct.com

Leslee Hill for State Representative

Lifetime Family Dentistry — 860-605-2075 — Collinsville www.lifetimefamilydentistryct.com

Linda Kessler: Realtor — 860-836-6172 — Avon www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agents

Liza Sivek Marketing — 203-278-5492 www.lizasivekmarketing.com

Maglieri Construction — 860-242-0298 — Bloomfield www.maglieri-construction.com

Magna Physical Therapy — 860-679-0430 — Avon www.magnapt.com

Maher’s Paint & Wallpaper — 860-678-1200 — Avon + Simsbury www.maherspaintandwallpaper.com

Make It GF — 860-693-1300 — Canton www.makeitgf.com

Mandel Vilar Press — 806-790-4731 — Simsbury www.mvpublishers.org

Massage Envy — 860-693-8000 — Canton www.massageenvy.com > Locations

The Master’s School — 860-651-9361 — West Simsbury www.masterschool.org

McLean — 860-658-3786 — Simsbury www.mcleancare.org

Nails of Envy — formerly Canton + Avon

Northwest Community Bank — 860-379-7561 www.nwcommunitybank.com

Odalys Bekanich: Realtor — 860-965-3652 — Avon www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agents

Peggy’s Personalized Promos — 860-379-7775 — New Hartford www.peggys.biz

Planning Partners LLC — 860-693-9916 — Canton www.planningpartner.com

Raimie Weber Jewelry — 860-409-3400 — Avon www.rweberjewelry.com

Randy Brolo: Book Author www.lulu.com > Spirit of Delilah

Ravenswood Natural Health — 860-264-1587 — Simsbury www.ravenswoodnaturalhealth.com

Red Bison General Contractor — 860-810-8581 — Hartford www.nextdoor.com/pages/red-bison-general-contractor-llc-hartford-ct

Richman Business Brokerage — 860-408-9177 — Simsbury www.richmanbusiness.com — formerly The Deal Team

Stone Man Masonry — 860-693-4637 — Canton www.facebook.com/StoneManMasonryCT

Suburban Sanitation Service — 860-673-3078 — Canton www.subsanserv.com

Tom Kutz Photography — 860-693-6254 — Canton www.tomkutzphoto.com

Trading Post — 860-693-4679 — Canton www.tradingpostmusic.com

Transition Fitness Center — 860-398-1449 — Canton www.transition-fitness-center.business.site

UConn Health — 860-658-8750 www.health.uconn.edu

Up Top Barbershop — 860-658-4499 — Simsbury www.booksy.com > Up Top Barbershop

Vincent Funeral Homes — 860-693-0251 www.vincentfuneralhome.com

Vincent Tully: Realtor — 860-214-3030 www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agent

Welden Hardware — 860-658-4078 — Simsbury www.weldenhardware.com

William Raveis — 860-693-2987 — Avon www.raveis.com/agentfind.asp?smart=1

The Village for Families & Children — 860-236-4511 — Hartford www.thevillage.org/second-chance-shops

virtualens Designs — 860-348-6902 — Simsbury www.virtualens.art