INK MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2022.pdf by Ink Publications

A Guide to Finer Living in Connecticut & abroad AUGUST 2022

Vol 17 Issue 199 inkct.com

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AUGUST 2022

Vol. 17 Issue 199

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Feature Stories

Departments

Pandemonium Rainforest Project

A Dream is Born in Deep River

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The Cheesemonger - Barrata and Prosciutto Salad August Events - Get out and live a little

"August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer." -Henry Rollins

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Pen & Ink

A Vintage Style Carried On

A Simple Life

Sports Photographer Allen Kee

God’s Left Ear

Part II of III

Now we find ourselves in the “dog days of summer.” We hope everyone has been enjoying their time in the sun. Was the lobster roll good? Did you get yours yet? Whatever your choice of summer treat, it is time to indulge as the cool weather will be upon us in a blink. In this issue of INK we present to you more of what living in Connecticut affords us. We begin with a dream come true in Deep River. I have been fortunate enough to know Allison Sloan for the over twenty years. I remember her thriving flower shop Ashliegh’s Garden in Centerbrook very well. I also remember her telling me, even back then, of her dream to start a full-on animal rescue center to scale. Well, here we are and the dream has manifest as the Pandemonium Rainforest Project. It is a place like no other and I would recommend not only a visit, but more importantly a revisit because it is ever changing by the day! Next we visit with a Norwich resident Nathanial Cerf. He has a passion for the beauty of Spencerian-style handwriting and is an important part in keeping it alive. The art of photographing sports to me is like if everyone at a wedding took off running in different directions. You really need to be in the place you need to be, when you need to be there. Madison resident Allen Kee has been documenting luminary athletes for decades. He is a great guy who is very grateful for his career. He is definitely in the right place. Then we bring you part II of a III part fiction piece by Daniel Lev Shkolnik. If you missed Part I you can find it on issuu.com. Lastly, we bring you a look at what cannot be seen. Courtney McInvale Reardon grew up in East Hampton in a haunted house. This is not normal. I guess that is why its called paranormal. The experience that she had as a child has lead her down the path she is on today! Enjoy! Jeffery Lilly

Contributors

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Got Spirit?

Courtney McInvale Reardon Does

founder / publisher

Ashley Alt - ask ashley

Daniel Lev Shkolnik - editorial

Susan Cornell - editorial

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design

Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography

John Tolmie - editorial

Nancy LaMar-Rogers - editorial

Jan Tormay - editorial

Rona Mann - editorial

Robert Rabine - editorial

Paul Partica - the cheesemonger

Joe Urso - ad design

Advertising

Jeffery Lilly - Publisher 860.581.0026 Bob Houde - Advertising Director bob@inkct.com 860.303.6690

Rona Mann - Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762 Richard Malinsky - Shoreline richard@inkct.com - 215.704.9273

On the Cover: Salt Flats, Photo by Allen Kee

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Wh hat are t Pandemonium Ra ainforest Project j ? WHERE ? WHERE we are headed: We are building a nou urishing, educational, and fun destination n for all ages. Our campus will feature a thrift shop, animal rescue and rehab ce enter, a turtle pond, free-flying bird aviaries, farm animals, socializing areas, historicall walks, a museum, gardens, and children-friendly activities. We are more than halfwayy there,

WHY ?

Pandemonium Rainforest Project rescues and rehabilitates exotic animals. Thousands d off parrots t and reptile l s die week kly in Ne N w En E glland due d e to impuls l ive pet acquisitions and a lack of proper husbandry. At PRP, we embra ace the task of educating the public and This is WHY we do this.

WHAT ? WHAT are we building? --A world-class education and rehabilitation facility to house our exotic reptiiles and birds d . Our focus is on creating a thriving, energetic center for both the animals and the public. We are seeking generous patrons to help complete the foreverhomes for our abused and disc s arded animals. If you would like to help us build world-class environments for either our birds or reptiles, we would be thrilled to place a plaque in your honor on your choice of enclosure. Please contact us for more information.

Café ELLA and Thrift shop Open Tues Sat 10-5 and Sun 10-2 Donations accepted Thurs - Sat 10-2 PR P RP is a 501-C3 C3 Non-p -prro offiit Org Orrg ga anizattion. All your d do onations go dir diirre ectly to tth he ca c re car e and rre ehabilitatiio on of our animals.

112 West Elm Street; Deep River, CT. (860) 322-4275

www.pandemoniumrainforestproject.org

From Pandemonium A Dream is Born... A Rainforest Right in Deep River? by Rona Mann / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

“Our primary goal is and will continue to be to teach. We have to take care of our planet now or there will be big ramifications later; we need to teach people about exotic animals and hopefully we’ll adopt out many to forever homes.”

eep River is a bucolic, a quintessential New England town straight out of Central Casting. It has the ubiquitous town green, the post office, the bank, a small smattering of shops and restaurants, and a large smattering of Yankee history. Then you turn a corner, drive about a half-mile on West Elm Street, and you’re in a rainforest. Not in the Congo, the Amazon, or New Guinea, but right in Deep River. Allison Sloane is a woman with big dreams and one big mission. She doesn’t suffer doubters and naysayers lightly, and she never, ever gives up on her dreams nor her missions. Twenty-one years ago the Connecticut native “rescued” a snake from a downtrodden pet store in Virginia. The reptile was living under deplorable conditions in a place that did not know how to properly care for animals, so she got him out and brought him back to Connecticut. All the while, Sloane fixated on the simple fact that a place was sorely needed for animals no one cared about like reptiles and exotic birds. A place not just of sanctuary, but of education as well. Allison created the Rainforest Project in 2002 and within a very short time had rescued well over 140 animals of all types. Soon, she had not only reptiles but parrots, all of whom she named, several dogs, cats, a Salcata tortoise (3rd largest in the world) named “Humphrey,” even

13 emus trolling her home. Where did she put them all? Easy. At her wildly successful flower, card, and gift shop, Ashleigh’s Garden. Long a popular award-winning fixture in southern Connecticut for her Dutch floral design, Allison was in great demand to provide the flora and fauna for big weddings and corporate events. Giant dogs (Akitas) patrolled the front door, Gracie, the cockatoo often landed on customers’ arms to welcome them, cats lounged in the floral workroom, and more than 40 parrots, macaws, and cockatoos inhabited the back room, screaming out greetings whenever the curious asked to be introduced. Without question, this was complete pandemonium, but Sloane isn’t bothered in the least. She thrives on it because she knows she has rescued and re-homed exotic animals that otherwise would come to an unfortunate end. She lived simply, the flower and gift shop underwriting the food, vet care, and shelter for her animals. But she longed to do better for them. She would create a rainforest. Her multi-million dollar dream born of sheer pandemonium began with architects engaged to draw up plans for a facility that would incorporate a butterfly conservatory, rainforest aviary, adoptions, boarding, classrooms, workrooms, a cafe, gift shop, and a special place for local veterans to come and wind down. For that, she would need some large corporate entities to make capital donations, but she wasn’t about to wait.

Sloane took over the space next to Ashleigh’s Garden, turning it into a highly successful thrift store, the profits of which all went into what was now called the Pandemonium Rainforest Project, but dreams don’t just stop because they fall short of the ultimate goal. Dreams continue, and true dreamers never stop dreaming, always wanting for more.

Photo of Sean Ames

In 2021 an historic factory building on West Elm Street built in 1856 and lying virtually dormant for 70 years was offered for sale. Once, this was a centerpiece of Deep River as it was one of the last places where ivory was cut and manufactured. Here ivory was processed in “bleach houses” used primarily to be made into piano keys. Allison and her partner Kim Olson

wanted to preserve the old building in some way, honor it as part of Connecticut’s history, so they bid hard against someone who wanted to demolish and turn it into condos. If nothing else, Allison Sloane is all about preservation, about reuse, and when it comes to animals both domestic and exotic, about rehabilitation. No one was going to throw away this building with so much of Connecticut’s history in the walls and floorboards, and no one would throw away these exotic birds and reptiles that desperately needed a better life. As Sloane outlines her plans in the vast upper floor room where she and Sally Marzi are lunching, a couple of goats happen in. They sniff at the fruit on the table, but it’s not to their liking, so they walk on. Marzi is a retired nurse who lives in Centerbrook and

for the last three years has worked with the animals and birds cleaning their space, watering them, and loving every day she does it. The R3 Thrift Shop (recycle, reuse, repurpose) was moved to this venue and now occupies 12,000 square feet. It’s a day trip to go through the entire place chockablock with jewelry, kitchenware, household goods, electronics, clothing, art, books, crafts, sporting goods, pet items, and more. Everything is neatly displayed, beckoning shoppers to make their way through the historic factory to find a bargain, then enjoy some coffee and pastries at Cafe Ella, already open and filling a need along with filling bellies. “Look,” Allison says, picking up some just-donated toddler clothes.” The tags are still on it, it’s never been worn.” Every dollar made in this thrift store goes to the rescue and rehabilitation of exotic animals, but it doesn’t stop

there. Sloane’s dream and expansion of the Rainforest Project goes so much farther. “Our primary goal is and will continue to be to teach,” Allison says. “We have to take care of our planet now or there will be big ramifications later; we need to teach people about exotic animals and hopefully we’ll adopt out many to forever homes.” The parrots currently still living at Ashleigh’s Garden will be moved here once a 30-foot yurt is finally built. It will allow the rescue parrots to fly freely and also serve as an educational center where classes will be taught on the care of exotic animals, where school children can come on field trips, and where everyone who cares about the future of our planet will be taught methods of recycling, reusing, and repurposing. Once all the work is complete, Sloane hopes to be able to use area residents as docents to give tours of the historic building and the rainforest property. “Healthy older area residents who are living at Essex Meadows or Masonicare and are looking to do something with their time might like to come here, get educated, and then educate our visitors.” Allison also has plans for a summer camp next year so young people can enjoy living on the land and preserving it while also helping to save the lives of exotic animals.

Holly DeMorro Performing

A CAPITAL IDEA “We’ve e yet to orgganize a fformal capital p cam mpaign, p g , but in order forr this rainforest too be completed andd the animals to flou urish, we need funding, major fundin ng.”

The unique bleaach fields which Sloane feels might be the t very last in the U.S. are currently being g secured with posts, and saplings are beiing planted; an entertainment area is being ereected outside as well so local musicians can come c and play when they feel they’d like to be at one with nature in an animal sancttuary y in the shadow of an historic buildin ng 166 years old. Perhaps at night, the wallss echo with the lively conversation of factory y workers from the past and where now the echoes are of sweet sounds of complete pan ndemonium.

While the goal is su ubstantial corporate donatio ons from o Connecicut comp panies as intereested in the preservation e of the historic buildiing as well as in rehabilitation of exotic animals and educatiion of childreen and adults, any y donation is welcomee.

To this modern n-day Dr. Doolittle, Allison Sloane, it’s whaat matters. It’s all that mattters.

Visit Pandemonium m at 112 We West Elm Strreeet, Deep Riverr, CT www.Pandemoniu umRainforrestPr e rooject.orrgg (860) 322-4275 are tax deductiblle.

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he Spencerian handwriting of th h he 1800s and early 1900s used f composing business/govern for nment documents and personall l letters, now considered an art fo orm, has been mostly replaced b texts, emails, and typed letteers. Mostly we see this ornate, by a artistic-style writing displayed on invitations, signs, murals an nd f framed quotes and poems. IInvented by Platt Rogers Spenccer of Ohio, Ohio this Spencerian-styl Spencerian stylled w writing requires specialty nibs tthat write with a flexible point t that can go down to a very skin nny extra fine line, said Norwich h resident, Nathaniel Cerf, ownerr of ThePenMarket.com, an onliine b business, which sells modern, liimited edition, and vintage pen ns well as pen/pencil sets, inkw wells, and different-colored ink to ople all over the world. y adding “just a little bit of prressure at certain points,” one n “go to a very wide line and d then create a little bit more ickness to make certain curvees or certain elements of a ndwritten note stand out a liittle bit more, e,” Cerf said during ga ephone interview.

Coover Spread: Hong Nhat Nguyen’s Ornamental Scrript and American Cursive Handwriting with Ornaments design under the image of Nathaniel Cerff. Photo by Rose Art Creative

encerian writing was followeed by the Palmer method, which h came “a famous style of cursiive handwriting that is by and rge what you see in most handwritten letters” from the 1920ss the present – or a derivative of it, he said. “There’s still a lot of terest in these old-fashioned ffountain pens, and there’s still a t of interest in writing by hand. So, it might be more of a nich he arket than it once was 50 yearrs ago, but it is still something at people love, and I’m happy y to help people pursue their lo ove of writing g with fountain pens. p C Close to 100% of my y customers w write in some form of cursive h handwriting and use fountain p pens that draw ink from a bottlle. Many of my customers are repeat customers who buy lots of different pens. Some are m modern and some are vintage. T They just love the writing

23 experience, and they love tthe experience of a fountain pen n. The era is kind of fun for th hem to mix it up a little bit, and d they like modern and old-fashio oned ways, equally in many casses.” Cerf’s customer, Brenda M Miller of Missoula, Montana compares the way she cho ooses her pen and ink for the daay with the way some peoplee crave chocolate or something ssalty. “One of my favorite inks is actually called Chocolate Pud dding because it’s that color, and d it writes so smooth. It’s just lik ke writing with velvet,” she ssaid during a telephone intervieew. “Every pen has a differentt feel to it. It makes your handwriting look a little d different,” said Miller, a Universsity of Montana alternative forrmat specialist, who ensures “accessibility for students with disabilities.” Some days, sshe said she wants a “scratchieer” pen, while on other days sh he might want something sm mooth, or even a pencil. In additiion to keeping a journal for th he last 35 years, Miller writes lettters. “A letter is a gift. When yo ou go and you check your mailb box, it’s all bills, junk mail, and d now political stuff. But if you ssee a letter or a card from someb body, well that’s nice. The gift is not the letter; the gift is your tiime.” Master penman Hong Nhaat Nguyen of Rose Art Creativee in Ann Arbor, Michigan also purchases products from Cerf. She owns about 50 different-co olored inks and over 20 cartridg ge pens. Additionally, she ow wns 20 dip pens, which she said gives i h her “th “the ttremendous d s shade” h d ” she h needs d when h doing d i g Spencerian script commisssions, which she really enjoys

pearlescent Gold, using Oblique nib holder and Niikko G nib, Ornamental Script with flourishing on Canford Paper Guardmen Red by Hong Nhat Nguyen. Photos by Rose Art Creative

oof White

24 creating beecause it “is a beautiful style” and d gives her the freedom to express heerself. Nguyen also accepts assignmen nts for the more formal Copperplaate-Calligraphy-styled writing. As the firsst certified American Cursive Handwritting Master Penman, the Vietnamesse native travels around the country to o teach cursive writing, as well as “D Doodles and Taangles” using any kind o of pen “to create something personal” for themselves or others. Many scho ools have replaced cursivewriting lesssons with typing and computer classes, classes so fewer people are learning h how to write and read cursive, which Cerrf thinks is “troubling.” In addition n to helping children improve their hand d-eye coordination and small motor con ntrol, he said, “I think that cursive alsso helps give them a link to their past,,” such as their grandparents’ old letterss and diaries.“Most people aren’t as in nto dip pens, because you can only w write a sentence or two at the longest. M Most people prefer the more modern pens of the early 20th century through today that can hold a lot more ink,” said Cerf, whose bu usiness has increased across all d demographics since the pandem mic began in 2020. Filling dev vices and systems of pens vary throughout the decades, aallowing you to “write anywherre from eight to 20 or 30 pages.””Some people mainly draw skettches in their journals. “They’ll eiither do one pen, sort of a mono ochromatic style, or they’ll usee lots of different ink colors like an artist’s photo with a paintbrush,” u said Cerf, who keeps a jou urnal, but “loves” writing g lettters. “I like to use as many y of my pen ns as I possibly can per letter. So each paage I generally write with a different p pen. Then those pens are loaded d with somee of my favorite differ f entcolored in nks, and it ends up being like this crazy kaleidoscope of pens and inks being used d to write to my various friendss around th he country and around the world. Friiends who aren’t that into pens,, I might jusst write them in one color so I don’t driv ve them crazy.” . Cerf said h he thinks people “enjoy the retro-engin neering of how to put ink in a fountain n pen,” appreciate that he can restore maany different types of filling sysstems and h his honesty of not trying to sell every pen n as “the world’s greatest pen.” Pens that “might be worth a lot more money” iff not for the “nicks and scratchees and wear and tear” can sometimes be purchased d at bargain prices, prices he said. said “Since I fix x all pens and try to just get them back k out there in circulation, I can help get p people who might not be able to o afford the perfect museum piece into a

pen they can write with everry day for a much better price, aand still let them have the experieence of that artifact in writing.” Cerf said people like to know w the story behind the pens hee sells them. “Many of the pen ns are from the 1920s or 30s or 40s, and I think there’s a cerrtain romantic connection to the past when someone buys a p pen from a differ f ent era. It’s easy y to speculate that certain pen ns in the 1940s might have gon ne overseas with”men and wom men as “soldiers and sailors who o were in combat or far away from home for the first time.” Since certain pens were desiigned specifically for women during that era,” it’s interestting to think what those women n were doing. Some might hav ve been working in factories, an nd others might have been wiv ves and mothers at home, you kn now, waiting for their husbands tto return Cerf adds. “It’s pretty cool to think what a lot of these differ f ent pens m might have seen…or at least writteen about 70 - 80 years ago. If thee pen could talk, who knows what types of stories they’d tell?” For more information about buying g, selling, or trading pens, go to ThePenMarket.com, email Nathan niel Cerf at info@ThePenMarket.com, or o call him at 847-708-5062. Hong Nhat Nguyen of Rose Art Creative Ce can be contacted at hong@rosea o artcreative.com, by telephone at 734-726 6-0539. Website: e roseartcr o eative.com. Left Page: g Hong g Nhat Nguyen’ g y s Ornamentall Script p with Bird Flourishing g on Fabriano Drawing g Paper p Black, Spencerian and American Cursive Han ndwriting with Scrolling, Ornamental Script on Caanson watercolor paper, using Sumi and Finetec pearrlescent Gold inks. Right Page: Doodles and Taangles with Ameriican Cursive Handwriting on Strathmore watercoloor paper, American Cursive Handwriting and Taangles and a Doodles using Fountain Pen UEF nib and Fountain Pen ink, both by Hong Nhat Nguyen. All Phootos of Scripts and Doodles by Rose Art Creative Nathaniel Cerf, owner of ThePenMarket.com at a Yaantic Falls (Indian Leap) in Norwich, Connecticut. Photo by Dawn Sillars

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LIFE

A Profile of a Sports Photographer By John Tolmi o ie / Photos Courtesy of Allen Kee

ehind the lens, Allen Kee has had the privilege of capturing so ome of the most memorable sportin ng events of the 21st century. The Emmy Awar a d-winning photographer has captured spo orts icons at the pinnacle of their careers su uch as Mike Tyson, y David Beckham, Dale Ea arnhardt Sr., Michael Jordan and Tom o Brady. Toda o y he is a senior staff photographer for ESPN E where he continues to shoot live-actio on sporting events and environmental portraitures p of top athletes around the worrld. Allen is also responsible for capturing g the iconic shot of the Iron Throne image from Game of Thrones which has since beccome a p pop p culture phenomenon. It is a pretty p hefty resume of an equally humble and a grateful individual. He began honing hiss craft when images were still captured on rollls of delicate film. Over three decades have passed p since Allen first embedded himself in the t world of professional photography. Ye et even at fiftyone years old, he continues to be e grateful for the gift of his amazing adventurre in life.

34 His journey began in the womb of a young lady in the rural outskirts of Charlotte North Carolina. Allen was welcomed by not only his mother; his grandparents also embraced their new grandson who would become a major part of his upbringing. Allen’s grandfather drove a big rig for a living, and the young boy relished the experience of traveling the southern states as his Grandpa’s favorite co-pilot. “We didn’t have a lot of money back then. We had lived in a trailer on a plot of land with my grandparents when I was a child,” Allen recalls, “so I kept myself entertained by playing in the woods and fishing the ponds and lakes.” It became apparent that fishing was in the family’s DNA as Allen’s grandfather moved to the North Carolina coast outside Wilmington in his later years, where he exchanged his tractor-trailer for a commercial fishing boat. Inland, the school year was spent with his mother and his step-father who he considers his greatest hero, but when summer vacation was at hand Allen joined his grandfather on the high seas. This is where Allen began to fall deeply in love with the blue waters off the Carolina coast. “I was 12 years old when he became a commercial fisherman.” Recalls Allen, “during the summer months I worked on my grandfather’s boat and first mate on other fishing charters. I also learned how to free dive, earned my open water SCUBA certification, and became a dive master.” Allen, with Jacques Cousteau as his guide, dreamed of becoming a hardhat diver for the military. His physical prowess was notable and at one point was being recruited by the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut to play football. “I figured it was a sure bet to get me on my way to being a diver in the Coast Guard.” Allen chuckles. “But when they got a hold of my SAT scores, they stopped talking to me.” The rejection was a bit of a blow for Allen, but he was determined to find a way to earn a living under the waves. His next attempt was to meet with a Navy recruiter to see what they had to offer. However, the Navy wanted a six-year commitment. Allen says with a sigh, “I mean the experience just felt kind of heavy, yet it was such a brief time but my decision to ultimately not join the military was a profound moment in my life.” Allen walked out of the recruiter’s office wondering what his next move would be. He thought he would give College a try at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. After a year-and-a-half of higher learning, he decided it wasn’t for him and left university life behind to seek a career underwater once again. “I met a guy who had a dive shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was selling everything and moving his operation down to Aruba to open a shop down there.” Allen said, “So, I spent over a year down there as a divemaster running their operations for tourists on their boats. It was a lot of fun, but the game changer was

“If you want to go photograph something amazing, go here!

meeting a world-renowned underwater photographer, Stephen Frink who was based in the Florida Keys.” Allen was able to dive and work with the famed photographer for several days and in that short time, it opened his eyes and imagination to the possibility of a career in underwater photography. Soon after, Allen was back in Charlotte where he was in an automobile accident which was sort of a blessing in disguise. The insurance company cut him a check which he used to purchase his first underwater camera, a Nikonis 5. With his new toy in hand, Allen was sure he had found his calling as an underwater photographer. Yet fate would once again change the direction of his future. Allen relocated to Miami whereby chance he met a woman who worked for Kodak as a sales executive. She introduced Allen to her boyfriend who was a staff photographer for Sports Illustrated. “I became his apprentice and within two years I was flying all over the world photographing sports events. It was incredible!” said Allen with immense gratitude, “Once my apprenticeship with him was complete, I immediately began taking on my assignments. That was thirty years ago, and I’ve been a professional sports photographer ever since.” Allen cut his teeth by shooting the action on the field, but he soon developed another skill as a photographer. “I owned an 11,000 square foot studio and production company with my partner specializing in still photos for professional athletes as well as the fashion and advertising industries.” Miami Florida attracted the best fashion photographers many of whom worked in Allen’s studio. From the mid 90s through 2007, the experience had a profound influence on Allen’s approach to his lighting and composition of the athletes he would work with in the years to come. Allen explains, “In the studio

environment, capturing portraitures is what I’ve really kind of prided myself with. Being able to shoot the action stuff is what most sports photographers do exclusively. Yet, it’s a whole other skill set working one-on-one with all these top guys at the studio or in different portraiture environments.” This was a major part of Allen’s becoming in the industry and where he found great success. However, technology had finally begun to dramatically change the industry as digital cameras took the place of the film seemingly overnight. Allen has adapted to digital over the years, but when the inevitable transition from film finally came, so did another life changing event. Wire Image, one of the largest entertainment and celebrity photo agencies in the world, hired Allen to start its sports division in the early 2000s. In 2007 Wire Image was bought by Getty Images the same year Allen sold his beloved studio allowing him to move out to Southern California onto other creative endeavors. The experience was short-lived in the City of Angels, but the journey would change his life for the better in ways he could not have imagined. He found love and support in a relationship with a wonderful woman which resulted in the birth of a beautiful baby girl. “I had directed a few small projects in my time in LA, but I blew through most of my dough! So I had to ensure I could provide for my daughter.” Allen says with a chuckle, “With my new responsibility as a dad, the experience led me back to Sports Photography once again and I haven’t looked back since.”

Allen relocated to the Nutmeg State to work for ESPN whose home office resides in Bristol Connecticut. He calls home on the Connecticut Shoreline where he balances his demanding schedule as a photographer and most importantly a single father. However, memories of his past experiences still burn in his mind. “Working and building the ESPN magazine into the great brand that it became was incredible.” Allen recalls, “The fondest

36 memory of my early career was when I had the opportunity to photograph Dale Earnhardt Sr. Working with Dale is how I made a name for myself.” Allen continues,” He was a North Carolina boy, grew up on a farm and of course around racing. But he was a down-to-earth guy and always showed up for a shot when he promised. We did a lot of work together on film as well as editorially. He made an impact, and I greatly appreciated our time together.” In the modern day of photo editing software, photographers can retouch their shots taken in the field. “I don’t know how to use any of those programs.” Says Allen with a chuff, “I can resize and crop an image, but that’s about it. My images are sent raw straight from my camera to my client when I get a shot.” There is a sense of purity in his approach to photography. Being able to use the proper settings on a camera without correction later has allowed Allen to efficiently produce while on assignment. “I suppose that’s why I am still relevant today. Don’t get me wrong,” Allen explains, “The results of photo editing software are amazing and beautiful, but that is a whole different approach and process in photography that doesn’t interest me.” His words are free of arrogance as he explains how photography intrigues him. “It’s been a while since I have covered the Olympics. But my most memorable assignment was the 2004 games in Athens Greece.” Recounts Allen with a wide grin. “Also the World Cup in South Africa 2010 was spectacular… and Mario Andretti’s final Indianapolis 500 was incredible.” When asked what comes to mind when thinking about his favorite photo. “The World Cup celebration in Johannesburg was an unbelievable experience.” He says as he pulls the photo up on his Instagram. The

“This art form has afforded me to go all over the world and experience incredible things that

energy and emotion emitting from that moment captured in time brought a brief silence to the room. Allen laughs as he Scrolls to the next picture revealing the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where the world’s fastest land speed vehicles compete to push the limits beyond imagination. “If you want to go photograph something amazing, go here! “ Allen says as he points to the photo. “It’s just incredible to witness firsthand.” When asked if he had any advice for a burgeoning photographer, Allen replied, “Choose a subject that you love and that you are interested in and go after it!” Allen concludes following his advice, “This art form has afforded me to go all over the world and experience incredible things that I never could have imagined. I am just full of gratitude coming from a small town in North Carolina. It has afforded me amazing moments of incredible blessings in life.” Allen says holding his hands together in thanks, “My daughter is twelve years old and has a creative side as well. She is into sports and fashion and dancing and singing. It is a great life.” Allen continues, “I’ll fly up to Boston for three or four days and shoot a game and then come home and spend three or four days with my daughter.” Allen looks up and smiles recounting how his daughter occasionally joins him on assignments around the

country. “Which is wild because I didn’t even step on a plane until I was 19 years old,” Allen says with a hearty chuckle. He is an inspiration for a man who chased his dreams and made them a reality. Now with a young co-pilot by his side, he will continue to foster an environment of artistic and creative experiences to help his daughter find her path forward.

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PART P AR RT II by Daniel Lev Sh hko kolnik

o Zee’s surprise, she did not die on the day she released her mother ’s aviary into the dawn sky y.. But the following week was the worstt of her young life. On hands and knees, Zee scrubbed the attic clean of drop ppings, molted feath hers, and mice skeletons. Even as Renata barked new ordeers at herr,, Zee smiled to herself; she could hear her mother was losing her avian aaccent. Renata’s plan to learn the language of the angels had faailed. She would have to find another way to win a conference with the Almig ghty y.. And she knew just the way y..

Before long, books began arriving in the mail along with satchels of o powderr,, talismans, and a large stone dagger packed in bubble wrap. Renata took to studying these books in earnest, muttering to herseelf as she ran her finger across the yellowed pages. One evening, when Renata had left forr the cemetery y,, Misha and Zee peaked inside one of these tomes. The cover seemed to be made of blackened skin. After flipping a few pages, they discovered an image of threee rats in a circle, consuming one another. “Y Yo ou know what?” said Misha. “Maybe the birds weren’t so bad.” On the way home from the cemetery y,, Renata passed by the synagogue. The window of the rabbi’s study was lit. “Fearful old fool,” she said. “Soon enough, we’ll settle this.” It was only several months before that Renata had challenged the venerable Rabbi Horowitz to a battle of faiths—at her husband’s funeral, no less. Gregory Kamenev had passed away (a perforated ulcer) and the rabbi presided over the service. Afterward, he turned to Renata and said: “W Weear only black for sev ven days. Eat nothing but hard-boiled eggs. Say the mourner ’s Kaddish each evening for 11 months. And cover your knees.”

maka to his head as Renata chassed him The venerable Raabbi Horowitz clutched his yam around the synag gogue, trying to tear his beard fr f om his chin. It took three men n to drag Renata, snorting and spitting, s out into the street. “Mark my wordss, Rabbi: If here is a God, I will track Him down, catch his earr,, and ask the one question no prophet has ever dared to aask. And believe me, you will kn now of it.” That was six s months ago and Renata plan nned to keep her word. Returning from the cemetery y,, Renata R crouched in the attic likee a garle and gathered her ing gredients. In her rush, she made some ubstitutions. The entraills were not from a tortured anim mal but from the deli. The nailss were not from a recent crucifix xion, but oad spikes yankeed from a local track. And insteaad of a lackthorn, sshe’d bought a wooden cane from o the

orry much about these minor altterations. hatt the Prince of Darkness was an n entreprearcelly miss an opportunity to do bu usiness. ed a flicckering city of candles about heerr,, and blood of a dead chicken congealing in a bowl, b began to ch hant. ours later—exh hausted and smattered in the ju uices of ifferent animalss—Renata relented. blasphemed every y world religion and made offers no n would refuse. Mu uttering a few last curses, she cllosed the door and went to wash h herself off with the garden hose. enata lay down to sleeep, something moved in the darrkness of t groped along the floo or with boney hands and, after adjusting t out a rattling wheezee. cient had arrived to thee Kamenev household.

d her mother-in-law w,, NSTEAD OF THE DEVIL, Ren nata had mistakenly summoned IN Baaba Golda. or nearly half a century y,, the gho Fo ost of Golda Kamenev was sealeed away in the old tumbaalalaika, which Renata stored in n the attic. pon returning to this world, Bab ouse. She discovered, to Up ba Golda floated through the ho y, that she had two grandch y, hildren on which to dote. dote heer joy y. y. Th he children did not share her joy n the TV screen—she Th hat evening, Zee’s hair stood on n end when—in the reflection on saaw a deathly old woman seated beside her on the sofa. Th hat same night, Misha awoke in n a cold sweat to find Baba Gold da by his bed, stroking hiis arm and pushing back his loccks of hair. He immediately fain nted back to sleep. Th hese would have been normal ssigns of affection if only Baba Golda weren’t dead. But ving have against the dead turn ned all these displays of sh he was. And the prejudice the liv love into a malignant haunting. “C Can we move?” Misha assked his mother. “W Why would we do th hat?” asked Renata, who diid not look up from her neewest tome. Something’s haunting “S he house.” th What do you mean, “W haunting’? Y Yo ou haven’t ‘h ve you?” m made any deals with anyone, hav “D Deals?” “N Never mind. What exactly did y you see?” “T There’s an old lady in the housee. Zee saw her too!” her easy chair and “T The devil’s mother?” Renata ask ked herself, then jumped from h fliipped through a tattered manusscript.

Sensing his cause was lost, Misha went upstairs to find his sister had already packed her stuffed animals. “We’re staying,” he said, with a heavy heart. Zee sat down on her suitcase. “I wish Dad was still here.” “Me too.” In the living room, Renata pored over her books. Her son’s question had ignited new hope in her that her ritual hadn’t been for nothing. Flipping to the right passage, she cleared her throat and shouted: “Hear me, Abominable Mother…!”

Baba Golda drifted in. She was concerned and confused why her daughter-in-law would go to such lengths to speak with the Lord. He was a busy man, after all. Even she had not yet met Him. When Baba Golda first arrived in the afterlife, she found it wasn’t exactly as they’d described it. There wasn’t so much as a clerk to note down her name or a doorman to take her coat. There were others there, of course, but they weren’t any more informed than she. The Jews, having been promised nothing, were not much disappointed. But the Christians and Muslims were distraught by the state of things. Upon arriving, many of them became atheists. “What?” she scolded the newly deceased. “You thought He’d be waiting to massage your bunions?” Even the disappointment of death had left her faith unshaken. And so, when Friday arrived at the Kamenev household, Baba Golda excitedly began making preparations for the sabbath. But as the sun set, she noticed something was amiss. Life in the house went on as normal. Renata leafed through a tome in her easy chair. The children watched television and ate cereal. There was no challah in the oven. No braided candle stood ready to be lit. No

torah book had yet been opened—nor was there even a man to read it! In a panic, Baba Golda lit the oven and threw open the cupboards. Rifling through it, she found that barely anything was kosher. Only the salt. In desperation, she began to pray. Renata and the children gathered at the kitchen door to see pots and pans floating through the air, the oven blazing, and wooden spoons parading above their heads. “We told you,” Misha whispered. At the crucial moment, as the orange sun fell behind the trees, Baba Golda saw her family standing dumbstruck in the kitchen. A horror grew in the pit of her stomach as the truth dawned on her. “Gevalt!” she said. “They’re no longer Jews.” She flew up to the attic in a frenzy and floated back and forth in circles. “How could this have happened?” she muttered. “I’m gone a few decades and they turn into goyim? How will they marry or bury each other? Or slaughter their calves?” Her alarm grew without bounds. “Without God, anything is possible!” Her chest filled with sorrow and love for her wayward family. She knew that if they did not cleave to the past, the future would destroy them with its insatiable appetite for change. At that moment, Baba Golda thought she understood why she’d been summoned back to this world. She would help them. She would help them, once again, to fear God. She would help them become Jews. To be continued in the next issue …

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COURTNEY Y MC CINVALE A REA ARDON DO OES By Susan Cornell Photograaphy Courtesy of Seaside Shadows

Reardon’s first spirit en ncounter took place when she was about seven. She recalls r waking up and seeing a man with long hair and a beard sitting in a bean bag chair in her Minnie Mo ouse décor bedroom. “He was sitting by my y milk crate bookcases and appeared to be reading. He smiled at me warmly and I remember feelin ng safe. The next day I told my mother Jesus had come c to visit me (the only long haired bearded m long-haired man I knew of at the time) time). Looking back, I remem mber her face of concern but I comforted her and to old her ‘I'm sure he's just reading the Bible.’” As Reardon grew oldeerr, she had an intuitive sense or eye for things but itt really came to her attention during the house haun nting and when Warren told her she and her motheer had special abilities. “Initially y, I wanted nothing to do with it and my mother didn't didn t reallly either -- it was seen as the occult or being unstable. I remember asking Lorraine Warren to heelp me block them out -- and she smiled warmly an nd told me that I could ignore them for a time but th hat I would always be a light in a dark tunnel for th hem.” As Reardon grew in ag ge and spiritual journey y, she came to embrace the t ability as a gift and not a curse of some kind -- where w she could feel protected and safe by loved ones, o ancestors, and those who walked the earth h before her. “Now w, I am grateful ev very day to have contact with ovide healing for people in the spirit realm, to pro readings, and to proviide honor to those who lived centuries before me. A And my motherr, too, is very

"My childhood dream ms were to write books and to be involved in history, and herre she was doing that and embracing the p paranormal that always faascinated me."

Phooto by Bob Cornell

a ghost tour company y, Queen City Ghostwalk.

proud and glad to embrace ou ur generational gifts.” Most of her family an nd friends have been nothing but supporrtive. In college, Reardon interned att Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and, loving research and investigatiion, took a job with the FBI after college. A After a couple years working in Washington, DC, she k a position missed New England and took d Security with Department of Homeland p y in While living South Burlington, Vermont. W ve with her in Vermont, she fell back in lov n running home region and met a woman

“I took her tour and learned of her books and I thought...oh my gosh, she is living the dream. My childhood dreams were to write books and to be involved in history y...and here she was d doing that and embracing the paranormal I w was always fascinated with.”

dinners, spooky story dinnerss, special investigation events, ghost bo oat tours in New London and Mystic (“S Shoreline Epidemics through the Centuriies” and nd haunted “W Wiicked W Wa aters of Mystic”), an Irish and Scottish vacations.

Reardon added tours in W Weesterrly y, RI and Concord, MA in June, and plan ns to expand throughout New England and the US. “I'm always open to ideas and I think that the world of spiritualism, paran normal and history is just hitting the beginn ning of its Reardon was d determined to return to awakening. People want to con nnect with Connecticut to start a ghost tour company y, spirits and learn more of wheree they came write haunted history books, “and launch a from and that love is only goin ng to help the career far away y from the cubicles that faded industry blossom.” into my past.” Seaside Shadows Haunted She started with Mystic as it was a place to life. History Tours came c she remembered fondly for its amazing aside Shadows focuses n pinnacle Currently y,, Sea energy y.. “It's also a well-known but includes much ome state. primarily on Mystic M of New England right in my ho d hi more than hau h h Pl i founding f di is i rooted d in i a way iin unted history tours off Plus, its downtown and graveyards. There’s dark history and blood -- addin ng that ‘dark, paranormal pu ub crawls, murder mystery spooky’ element.”

“Itt was our natural home, andd we were meant m to be together. The spirrits’ stories were reeady to be told.” When Reardon created the tourr, she can canvassed around Mystic looking for stories and it did not disappoin nt. “It was our natural home and we were w meant to be together. The spirits’ sto ories were ready to be told.” ss stories s to tell ite is when a spirit er talking t about him tou ur. ivee tours in a haunted ut I was still flustered rgaasted. The story of Wiilliiams, one of the hert G Griswold is a favorof mine m to tell and sure ne day as I was telling loo oking at my guests’ mm mering over the ligh ht as I stood in my thee dark graveyard I acee of a man, looking bitt stern, dark brown nd listening intently -d ab bove the people on r sid de of him.” iallly y, I kept going kin ng it was one of guests and then it hit -- he h was no guest at Hee was dressed in th h ccentury clothing l hi n I looked back had hen DE eye contact and MAD here what I had d th

y aassumed in my y heart -- the spiri p its always ning; they want to be rememberred are listen and their stories need to be shared.” She’s had several tours where her cape has been n tugged (the former Emporium m in ning Mystic), where she’s seen shadows runn about, where w she’s been touched on herr y Captain John Gallup). She’s seeen head (by nning around the Daniel Packer Ada run he’s Inne, and d has had dishes move while sh hosted eevents there. n’s latest book, Civil War Ghostss of Reardon Connectticut, published in October. Prio orr, hored Haunted Mystic and Revo she auth olutionary War Ghosts of Connecticut. Shee’s well planning g books on local cemeteries as w ut. as Irish American A history in Connecticu Civil “In reseaarching my books, I have had C haps diers answer questions, but perh War sold ore alarmingly -- more than once even mo at Gettyssburg b and d Antietam captured d th he h mera. sound off gunfire and cannonfire on cam ad footsteps behind me at PeterrsAnd I ha y life burg. Ass you can see the unusual in my ome...quite usual.” has beco She’s alsso going to do special events in Salem, Massachusetts M and filming with the Spirit Reealm Network. Then theere’s readings. To To decide what ttype off readin ding is i suitable, it bl she h lets l t her h client li tts decide w what’s best for them. That is, “A Are they look king to connect with a lost loveed one? Som meone who they miss dearly? A medium mship reading where I can chann nel

messages of love and validatio on is the on best fit for them. Is the client lo ooking for guidance in a career chang ge or love life? They may prefer taro ot/angel cards which can give advice. D Does the client want to know what's to come and have insight on the presen nt -- then Runes or Tea Leaves would bee the best. And if someone wants to be a part of spirit messages and love with multiple people -- a gallery medium reaading is the best!” Taking one of Reardon’s tours, her passion for paranormal jumpss right out (and maybe something else too). The stories, her roots, everything. W While she is a true Connecticutian, Irelan nd is also a true love and so, using her reesearch and investigation talents, she b became a guide in Ireland. Two decades ago, her mother took her to Ireland to get them to know w their roots better. “I fell in a deep lo ove and soul connection. I always iden ntified with the supernatural embracee, the lore, the legends and from then n on, I knew Ireland was a placce where my heart thrived.” She studied abroad and lived iin Ireland, interning for the Irissh Parliament and taking classes on Irish history y, culturee and literature. She joined the IIrish Northern Aid Society of CT T, Irish American Home Society y, and spends free time keeeping up to snufff on legends and lore and her ancestry there. ““I b l k l d able bl on the h rebellions b ll l d and became d deeply knowledgea off Ireland d knew k that h my knowlk l edge would allow me to be a g guide there.”

Reardon also leads trips in n Scotland, a love that came to her by w way of her love for Ireland and the Ou utlander book series...”their supernaatural embrace, their fighting history y (that I feel acobites -deeply), my ancestry y, the Ja my studies on them becam me such a part of my knowledge base thatt I knew they were tours to be had.” Will other countries come on Reardon’ss map? “I surre hope so but my Celtic ancestors arre my priority and they arre rroooted in so many of us Americans andd our heritage, they can't be ignorred!” To learn morree about tours andd events, visit seasideshadows.com. id h d For F info i f rmation ti about b t other services, visit courtneym mcinvalerreardon.com.

The

Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Burrata & Prosciutto Salad By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook

ummers are a perfect time for salads and here’s the perfect salad. For my family it’s a special treat that we do more than once a summer. The unique blend of ingredients culminates in a hard-to-describe great taste sensation that makes you want to come back for more. It all started when a customer of ours brought in an article with the recipe. I think it was from the Wall Street Journal and unfortunately, I don’t remember the date. All of the credit belongs to Chef Michael Gallina of a restaurant in St Louis called Vicia. His creation, a no cook meal, was simply called: A Summer Fruit Salad with Burrata and Prosciutto. He claims it takes twenty-five minutes to prepare but given my dexterity and skill in the kitchen I would allow double that time, but oh is it worth it.

The ingredients 3 cups halved cherry tomatoes 2 cups halved and pitted cherries 1 Persian cucumber sliced into ¼ inch rounds Kosher Salt Juice from ½ lemon, plus more as needed 1 tablespoon raspberry or Sherry vinegar 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon minced shallot ¼ cup olive oil plus more for drizzling 2 peaches, skin removed and cut into wedges 3 cups diced cantaloupe ½ cup roughly torn basil leaves, plus more to garnish 2 balls fresh burrata, or mozzarella, halved 12 thin slices prosciutto.

Chef Gallina’s instructions 1. In a small bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cherries and cucumbers. Season with salt and set aside until fruits release their juices, at least 10 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette in a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, ginger, and shallots. Season with salt and let shallots macerate until lightly pickled, at least 5 minutes. Whisk in olive oil and season with salt to taste. 3. Toss tomato-cherry mixture with vinaigrette and let marinate until flavors meld, at least 5 minutes. Just before serving, toss in peaches, melon, and basil. Season with salt and lemon juice to taste. 4. To serve, place ½ ball burrata on each plate and season cut side with salt and olive oil. Generously mound salad around cheese and arrange prosciutto slices along-side. Garnish with more basil. Freshness is the key with all ingredients. Make sure your fresh mozzarella is fresh. If too aged it can become sour to the taste. You can also use buffalo mozzarella but burrata seems to work the best. It adds a little more juice and moisture to the dish. I would buy an extra piece of burrata for test purposes, you would not like to redo everything, plus it gives you something to accompany that glass of wine needed during prep work. Equally important is the prosciutto. Try and ﬁnd a Prosciutto de Parma with an age of two years for that added ﬂavor. Its ingredients should be

pork and salt with no other elements, including nitrates or nitrites. Have it thinly sliced as fresh as possible, preferably the day you are serving this treat. Lastly, spend a little extra on the raspberry or sherry vinegar. A poorquality product can ruin the whole dish. They should taste great on their own merits. Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook, CheeseCt.com

AUGUST EVENTS

The Meadows Brothers - Sat, August 6th, 7 - 9 pm Someone you can XRAY - Sat, August 13th, 7 - 9 pm Justin Chan & The Vices - Sat, August 20th, / 7 - 9 pm Old Dog New Trick - Sat, August 27th, 7 - 9 pm LEIF NILSSON SPRING STREET STUDIO AND GALLERY LLC One Spring Street Chester, Connecticut 06412

Full Moon Harbor Cruise Aug 11, 2022

The Bowerbird, Old Lyme Annual Summer Sidewalk Sale August 5 - 6 / 10am-5pm Shop inside and out, with savings of up to 75% off seasonal and everyday items. Shop our vast selection of great gifts including: toys and games, home and garden, jewelry, clothing, accessories, cards, gourmet foods, custom stationery, and more!

Join us for an unforgettable evening, illuminated by the light of the full moon. Our harbor cruise begins with a stunning sunset, as our boats make their way to the mouth of New London Harbor. Guests are welcome to enjoy snacks and beverages, including alcohol (no glass, please), on board. Tickets to full moon harbor cruises sell out quickly, so don't wait to reserve your seats.

Old Saybrook, Main Street August 5-7 Merchants all across town, from Boston Post Rd / Rt 1 to Main Street and places in between--including neighboring towns--will be offering specials, sales and promotions. Shop great deals Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Keep checking back for additional participating businesses and their deals! Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce 1 Main Street, P.O. Box 625, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 860. 388.3266 - info@oldsaybrookchamber.com

Tickets are non-refundable. 100% of the profit from your ticket purchase benefits Thames River Heritage Park Foundation and helps to connect, support, promote, and sustain over 20 heritage sites and institutions along the Thames. Please arrive early to allow time for parking and potential traffic. Following your purchase, you will receive an email with your confirmation. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks abroad, but please know that there is no bathroom on the water taxi. Thames Heritage Park, 1 Waterfront Park New London, CT 06320

SPRING STREET STUDIO AND GALLERY PRESENTS: CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN Seasonal concert series of eclectic international and local singer songwriter artists from cool jazz to blue grass. $20 suggested donation - BYOB and picnic - Outdoor Bistro Style Seating in the Amphitheatre Rain or shine! Choose your favorite bottle at the Chester Package Store across the street, get your picnic from any of Chester's fine restaurants and grab a growler from the Little House Brewing Company next door.

The Lyme Art Association Presents Point of View: 101st Annual Elected Artists Show August 12 - September 22 This exhibition showcases the best of the best in representational art from our Elected Artists, who are our most accomplished artists and the torch-bearers for the American representational tradition. They follow directly in the footsteps of the Lyme Art Colony artists who hung their Tonalist and Impressionist works on the walls of the local library in 1901. This is an exhibition that should not be missed.

65 Running concurrently is True Blue. Considered beneficial to the mind and body, the color blue elicits a sense of tranquility and healing. We challenged our Associated Artists to submit work where blue is the predominant or most significant color in their piece. This ode to blue will be a visual feast for viewers. Both shows are proudly sponsored by Chelsea Groton Bank, our Supporting Sponsor. Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Connecticut visit our website www.lymeartassociation.org or call (860) 434-7802.

Westbrook Outlets Second Saturday Village Market Saturday, August 13 th | 10am 3pm Are you looking for local and regional small businesses, craftsmen and vendors who offer a wide selection of Connecticut gifts and more? Westbrook Outlets Second Saturday Village Market. Our Village Market provides a great opportunity for our shoppers to enjoy national brand stores, local small businesses and pop up vendors all in the same location! Come early for best selection. TWINS BBQ and Tapville Tap Truck will join us along with over 40 vendors in our courtyards. Westbrook Outlets, 314 Flat Rock Place Westbrook CT, 06498

The Buttonwood Tree announces the musical showcase of Megan Bee. August 13th, 2022. Singer-songwriter Megan Bee writes with an unquenchable wanderlust and a raw love for the land. Her fourth studio album “Cottonwood” releases February 2022. It follows “Waiting” (2020) which was named album of the year by The Ark of Music. Bee has won The Ohio Music Awards Best Americana and Best Singer-Songwriter Albums along with a finalist spot in the USA Songwriting Competition. “…warm and inviting…incredibly organic sounding. It sounds pure and human throughout.” – Divide and Conquer Show starts at 8 PM. Admission is $15. The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center 605 Main Street / PO Box 71, Middletown, CT 06457 www.buttonwood.org / 860.347.4957 CELL: 860-205-4303

Beachcomber Night 2022 Madison Chamber of Commerce Thursday, August 18th, 5:30 to 8pm, The Madison Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the return of Beachcomber Night to downtown Madison. Started in 2010, Beachcomber is a special evening of shopping and entertainment in town. Stroll along our beautiful sidewalks sampling wines and beer from Connecticut vineyards, local brewers and distributors while enjoying the sounds of live music along the way. Ticket sales begin in July. The Beachcomber event will span both the north and south sides of Rt. 1, as well as Wall Street. So Sip, Shop and Stay in Madison…It will be a summer night to remember!

THE KATE - LEE ROCKER…of The Stray Cats! Thursday, August 25, 7:30 pm Lee Rocker made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning and rocking his giant upright bass as a founding member (along with Brian Setzer and Slim Jim Phantom), of the Grammy nominated music group The Stray Cats, who sold over 10 million albums and garnered 23 gold and platinum certified records worldwide. Come hear Lee and his band perform Stray Cats hits like “Sexy and Seventeen”, “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town”, plus lots of other rockin’ songs Lee performed postStray Cats with music legends from Ringo Starr and George Harrison to John Fogerty and The Rolling Stones. Parking in Old Saybrook is available on Main Street and nearby parking lots. Please refer to the parking map for additional information.

Westbrook Outlets Annual Top Model and Talent Search Saturday, August 27th | Noon 4pm SAVE THE DATE! Westbrook Outlets and John Casablanca Agency will team together again to host their Annual Top Model and Talent Search. Six Top Modeling Agencies will be participating in thisevent. All upcoming models, actors and actresses will receive the opportunity to be seen and win a contract, high fashion photos shoots and a $300 gift card from Westbrook Outlets. Models of all shapes, ages and genders are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to be seen! Registration links can be found at: @topmodelsearchct or visit www.westbrookoutlets.com and to go EVENTS for details. Westbrook Outlets - 314Flat Rock Place, Westbrook CT, 06498

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