INK MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2021

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad October 2021

Vol 16 Issue 189

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Lose weight.

Gain memorie i s.

We turned Robbie Johnson’s aching feet into active feet. Thanks to surgical and non-surgical weight loss options that weren’t around just a few years ago.

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Vol. 16 Issue 189

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Feature Stories

Departments

The Floor Covering Shop

Longevity, Expertise, and Family

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Chateau Le’ Gari

A Fine Time Among the Vines

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Music Mirth & Mojo - Thinking Outside the Breadbox.

Ask Ashley - Preventing Seasonal Depression Crusty Old Diver - Hooked on Metal On the Vine - The Far Niente Winery The Cheesemonger - Best in Family, Part II

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Guy Wolff Pottery

After Seeing a Master in One Trade...

Read No Evil, Part One

Professor Jubilee was Dead...

Welcome to the our October issue of INK! Soon the air will begin getting crisp and everyone gets to visit the other side of their closet were the long sleeves and sweaters live. Fall is the best time of year ever IMHO. We submit to you this, our latest installment for your computer downtime with no little screen bossing you around with “helpful” reminders.

Magazines are easy. There is no hurry. There is no segue. You pick us up, you put us down, all at your leisure. Ah yes, leisure, remember leisure?

This issue of INK is packed with a little something for everyone. Ashly Alt getting the jump on SADS. Chateau Le’ Gari has launched a venue worth investigating. Ali Kaufman takes us to an event at the old Shaboo which is again stepping out into it’s own new light. Caryn Davis shares the story of her friend Paul Buthane. A New Zealand native who is fighting the good fight for the Costa Rica’s wildlife. We share the story of The Floor Covering Shop, a proud family business and worth exploring. The Crusty Old diver takes us on a trip out to the briny depths with friends to haul in some delicious dinner for later and let’s not forget Guy Wolff’s amazing pottery! Daniel Shkolnik introduces part 1 of a two part fiction piece and also explains why New Haven Looks like New Haven.

Magazines are pretty freaking cool!

Paul Bethune

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Kiwi Conservationist, Saving Cost Rica’s Wildlife

Brutal Colossus

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In 1969, a Fire Ravaged a Building at Yale.

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Jeffery Lilly founder / publisher

Contributors Ashley Alt - ask ashley

Rona Mann - editorial

Susan Cornell - editorial

Vincent Scarano - photography

Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography

Daniel Lev Shkolnik - editorial

Alison Kaufman - music mirth & mojo

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design

Nancy LaMar - Rodgers - editorial

Paul Partica - the cheesemonger

Toni Leland - editorial

John Tolmie - editorial

Art LiPuma - on the vine

Kate Tolmie - photography

Chelsey Lilly - events

Joe Urso - ad design

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Your Inspiration. Our Expertise.

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Longevity, Expertise, & the Family Behind It All

It’s Just How They Roll at The Floor Covering Shop

by Rona Mann Images by Brittany Graf Photography

T

hey have a rhythm. It’s in how they move, how they relate to and complement one another, and how they treat their customers. It’s how they roll, and how they’ve done so since 1963.

“They”are the people who own and “live” what they do at The Floor Covering Shop. If you grew up in Norwich, you probably grew up never knowing another floor covering store. If your kids grew up here and came to the store with you, they probably remember being allowed to maneuver up and down the bolts of carpeting, playing hide and seek among the stock rolls. It was a fun place 58 years ago when they first took over an existing business, and it’s still a warm and welcoming shop where clients are guided, but never “sold.”

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Meet the people who make flooring more than just selection, installation, and purchase. Meet the people who are expert at what they do and work together in concert with a special rhythm to make your experience a positive one. Meet Greg Graf, the owner, who does not sit on his laurels. Matter of fact, Greg doesn’t sit much at all. Every day he’s on the road throughout the eastern portion of Connecticut doing all the measuring and estimates, averaging approximately eight in-home visits daily. While he is versed in all products, his passion is hardwood flooring. He knows everything there is to know about hardwoods and is only too happy to share that knowledge and make recommendations that turn people into lifelong customers because they know they have someone they can trust.

While Greg is on the road, his son, Jonathan is in the shop every day. He is Operations Manager, marketing and networking guru, and his area of expertise is carpeting. This is not a title a father just “gave” his son; he had to work for it! From the time he was a little boy running around those same rolls of carpeting, he was learning the business, literally from the floor up!

While she is not blood-related to the Grafs, Project Manager, Jennifer Price, is as much a part of this family as anyone else. With 23 years of experience in the tile business and more than 10 at The Floor Covering Shop, Price considers tile “my passion.”Price loves showing customers the place that tile holds in the showroom and the possibilities it affords someone in their home. The tile is not just for the floor, but for showers, kitchen backsplashes, even walls.

This is not your grandmother’s tile that The Flooring Shop

12 sold in 1963; today choices are astounding in color, style, and are featured in a variety of materials and designs. Today there is also ceramic and porcelain tile, glass tile, and natural stone to beautify any home, however, the job is not finished when the install is complete. “We teach our customers how to maintain the look of their flooring so they have it for a long time,” says Jennifer who also points out they can create a curbless shower, a must for safe and secure accessibility for people who want to stay in their homes longer and age in place.

Not only are they made safe and easy for a wheelchair or walker to roll in smoothly, but they are extremely attractive in design. Add to this: patios, fireplace hearths, walls, and all manner of indoor/outdoor floor covering.

It is important to note according to Jon, “Every day, eight to twelve crews of installers work out of here. They work for us, so we’re not sending in strangers to your home. Most of them have been with us anywhere from 10 to 30 years.”

Jennifer adds, “When a customer walks in the door, they’re getting family, longevity, and the expertise of our installers, employees who have been with us a long time.”

During a good portion of 2020 during the pandemic, The Floor Covering Shop was forced to lock its doors like most other businesses. Although while not open to the general public in order to maintain everyone’s health and safety, the team still worked together every day, finding new and different ways to service their customers.

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“When a customer walks in the door, they’re getting family, longevity, and the expertise of our installers, employees who have been with us a long time.”

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“Every day, eight to twelve crews of installers work out of here. They work for us, so we’re not sending in strangers to your home. Most of them have been with us anywhere from 10 to 30 years.”

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“We brought samples right to the home which really is something we always did anyway,” Jennifer said, “but we were bringing them on the back of a car or truck, making sure everything was sanitized, and leaving it outside the home. It was like a tailgate party,” she laughed.

Greg’s daughter-in-law, Brittany Graf, is a professional photographer who lends her considerable talents to the shop and its customers, frequently taking photographs of finished work to feature on the company’s website. Yet another family member with talents to complement the mindset of this company and how they view their service.

This then is The Floor Covering Shop. You know, it’s the one in that great old trolley barn on Central Avenue. “We have owned this building since 2012,” Jonathan says proudly, “so we’re not going anywhere soon.”

With that, they go back to work. Greg to do inperson measuring and estimates, bringing to the mix his years and knowledge of hardwood flooring; Jonathan, the carpeting expert; and Jennifer, with 23 years’ experience in the tile business. If you meet them, you’ll immediately feel the sense of pride they have for the shop, the affection for one another, and their palpable camaraderie. You won’t hear the music, but you’ll see and feel the rhythm of how well they work together in concert for their customers... customers who’ve been literally coming for generations because they know this shop and they also know that the family housed within it is the real deal.

And who knows? They just might let you play hide and seek again. After all, it’s how they roll.

The Floor Covering Shop is located in the old Trolley Barn at 385 Central Avenue in the Greeneville section of Norwich (860) 887-3523 www.floorcoveringshopince.com

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EIGHT TAKES ON REALISM OCTOBER 1-30, 2021 Kathy Anderson Peter Bergeron Del-Bourree Bach Zufar Bikbov Tom Hughes Anne McGrory Deborah Quinn-Munson Larry Preston

Anne McGrory, Red Tail Hawk, Pastel & gold leaf, 14.5 x 24”

Tom Hughes, Vermont Pasture, Oil, 20 x 24” Kathy Anderson, Peonies and Iris, Oil, 20 x 16”

Peter Bergeron, Shoreline Cloud, Oil, 24 x 18”

Zufar Bikbov, Ready to Take Off, Oil, 11 x 14”

Kathy Anderson, Peonies & Iris, Oil, 20 x 16”

Del-Bourree Bach, My Old Pal, Acrylic, 12 x 24”

Larry Preston, Apples, Oil on panel, 16 x 24”

Susan Powell Fine Art

679 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT

203 318 0616

Deborah Quinn-Munson, Tidewater, Oil, 28 x 22”

www.susanpowellfineart.com

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Thinking Outside the Bread Box

By Ali Kaufman / Photos by Joseph Lemieux Jr. If you are a music lover and lucky enough to have been of age between October 1971 and 1982, you likely have some incredible, albeit perhaps fuzzy, memories of the magical music venue called The Shaboo. The club was the brainchild of a couple of local kids from Willimantic, David A. Foster and Bruce John, who wanted a place to play. I call them kids

because David wasn’t even old enough to have a beer at his own place when the doors opened.

These musicians in their own right, found the perfect spot sandwiched between two universities, Eastern State University and UCONN. The business of music was a far different proposition than it is today, The

Shaboo was an example of being in the right place at the right time. The 11 years of the club’s existence coincided with the rise of many artists we now call legends. Bonnie Raitt was a regular, and her appearances guaranteed a crowd that made up for the uncertainty of booking “new” acts like The Police, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith. B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, and Muddy Waters all graced the stage as well. James Cotton’s 1976 album Live & On The Move was recorded at The Shaboo and stands as a powerful reminder of what was.

There have been reunions through the years but the latest, the 50th, held at the end of August this year drew their largest crowd yet. About 3,300 or so gathered at the recently completed Shaboo Stage in Jillson Square, just over the

Frog Bridge in Willimantic.

50 years gone by have done nothing to diminish the enthusiasm for live music and community involvement of both artists and audience. The evening was blessed with perfect weather and outstanding talent with proceeds going to support the Covenant Our Soup Kitchen.

Governor, Ned Lamont, even stopped by to recognize this anniversary and surprised everyone by playing the piano and singing a few lines of John Lennon’s Imagine. I asked Bruce John if he had a standout moment among the many that night, “Tom Rush” was his answer. He then went on to say, "he was clear as a bell and sharp as a tack. At 80 he still puts on a fantastic show and remains a significant representative of the folk community. He is just a real great guy." Bruce also mentioned James Montgomery or the

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"King of the Shaboo," as he likes to refer to him. “Consistently from day one, James was one of the very best entertainers we ever had.

No one came close to his level of having a crowd in the palm of his hand, and he still has that magnetism.” That was on full display at the reunion when James fronted the Shaboo AllStars to an appreciative audience.

While The Shaboo is no longer, the “bunch of socially aware hippies that wanted to change the world," have made a life of helping to do that.

Bruce John had known early on that he had been blessed with an “empathy gene” that only grew as he experienced a taste of community involvement. At 13 he was donating to the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), Martin Luther King Jr. being it’s first president, Bruce has always had an eye on being a social activist.

Fast forward to 2009 when opportunity met inspiration to create The Bread Box. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 220 Valley Street in Willimantic was up for sale which would mean that the Covenant Soup Kitchen would lose its space. Inspired by a church in Massachusetts that Arlo Guthrie repurposed, he asked if he could try something similar at St Paul’s in

support of the Covenant Soup Kitchen, thus The Bread Box began to rise.

The old English style Episcopal Church now seats 100 guests, flanked by beautiful stained glass in its long and narrow sanctuary. Above, the wood ceiling feels like the inside of a guitar case, below, wood floors and plaster walls contribute to the incredible acoustics. The stage, sound, and lighting, which are top-notch were gifted by the Lester and Phyllis Foster Foundation and the family of Jim Romanow. Folk music was a natural fit to populate the lineups, but the Bread Box has hosted a plethora of musical styles over the last 12 years and that is a tradition that will continue as they head into their 13th season. Bruce also credits the audience that attends the shows for the wonderful vibe that permeates the intimate space. It is a listening room that tends to draw a “seasoned” demographic, many retired, from all walks of life that truly love the music and the cause it supports. Past artists including, Maria Muldar, Tom Paxton, Kal David, and Al Anderson have helped introduce this unique

venue to their fans and conversely, The Bread Box has introduced many acts to Connecticut audiences for the first time. The performances are on Sundays with few exceptions, but always double check the date. Music starts at 4 PM and goes until 6:30, leaving plenty of time to explore the restaurants in town, there are some excellent choices!

Opening day will feature Mad Agnes and Kerri Powers on October 24, the previously scheduled Jonathan Edwards appearance has a new date of Saturday, May 21, 2022. In addition to the weekend series, Bruce hosts and often plays a few songs at the Artist Showcase on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. This year they will return to live performance on October 20th after going virtual last year. Carolyn Brodginski member of the band, Seat Of Our Pants, is by Bruce’s admission, “Our biggest cheerleader!”

She stepped in during the shutdown to run the event virtually and continue highlighting handpicked local and regional singer- songwriters. I know Carolyn personally, and it didn’t surprise

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me one bit that the woman I met playing for oncology patients in the hospital just keeps helping in any way she can. You can catch Seat Of Our Pants playing the Bread Box Theater on November 21. It is important to note that 100% of the proceeds, less the nominal fee paid for a sound person and band, go directly to the Covenant Soup Kitchen. They have raised over $235,000 since the Bread Box opened their

doors; also of note, the kitchen has served over 1.4 million meals since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The generous donations have also allowed them to begin expanding their reach by delivering some meals and groceries to those who are homebound. Kimberly Clark is a champion of those in need and has been with the organization for at least 10 years.“Clothing, diapers, socks, feminine products, you name it,

if there is lack, Kim finds a way to fill the need,” Bruce shared with gratitude in his voice.

Bruce John’s passion for social justice is only equaled by his love of the music and his family.

Now in his 7th decade, he is hitting a new stride. Having survived cancer 7 years ago, he seems to have the energy and fortitude of a man focused on making every day count. Over the 59 years of playing Bruce has retained hundreds of songs that he plays solo or with his band, Dinosaurs After Dark. With a standing gig at The Main Moose in Columbia and an event list

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David A. Foster and Bruce John

as long as your arm, catch him when you can!

Lucky for us, Bruce has passed along his “empathy gene”to his two beautiful daughters, Mia and Emma. Mia mentors 150 kids a year at her dance school and holds performances that also contribute to feeding the hungry. Most importantly, the children, even the youngest dancers, are cognizant of how and why they are helping. Younger daughter Emma is a Ph.D

candidate in Santa Barbara and like her Dad, working on changing the world.

No one chooses to be poor or hungry, but it is a choice to make a difference and step up to the call. My spirit felt buoyed after my conversation with Bruce, he is an antidote for so many societal ills. Therefore, I am grateful to share this story of hope and action, so please check out

these links to learn more about attending the performances, getting involved with the Covenant Soup Kitchen, and perhaps spreading the word. I promise it does a body and soul a whole lotta good.

More information: BreadBoxfolk.org Brucejohnmusic.com Covenantsoupkitchen.org

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ChÂteau le GARI

A Fine Time Among The Vines

By Ali Kaufman

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t never fails to amaze me that even after all the miles I’ve traveled around our beautiful state, there are still gems to uncover, Chateau Le Gari is definitely one of them.

Located just off Route 2 in Marlborough, Connecticut, the vineyard is surrounded by the Salmon River Forest and sandwiched between the Blackledge River and Fawn Brook.

This location affords guests easy access to a natural setting that feels worlds away while they enjoy what the Chateau Le Gari has to offer. I met owners Gary & Caroline about a year ago and since then have had the chance to visit on several occasions. I was immediately intrigued by Gary’s southern accent and their Fleur Di Lis branding on their wine labels, my radar was not far off as I learned West Monroe Louisiana is where Gary hails from. There have been lots of stops along the way from LA to CT, I’ll start by thanking Gary for his service to our country, as a Marine right out of High School, thank you Sir. As if the Marines weren’t proving ground enough, Gary next went to work on the drilling platforms, some 120 miles out in the ocean for stretches of 7 to 28 days at a time. 7 years was long enough to know that this was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. The opportunity to come to Connecticut presented itself and he has been here ever since.

First landing in Fairfield surrounded by some very tony neighbors and then to West Hartford where he was making homemade wine. Around this time he found a mentor in Dr Richard Kiyomoto, former researcher at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Forestry and Horticulture. Gary had glowing things to say about Kiyomoto and how his expertise helped take a hobby, albeit one he was passionate about, to a brand new level. In 1996 Gary became the owner of the property in Colchester that Photos Courtesy of Chateau Le Gari

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Photo by Ali Kaufman

26 is now Priam Vineyards, fast forward to 2015 with the purchase of 20 acres in Marlborough and a new beginning for Gary and his wife Caroline.

The couple spent time traveling extensively in Portugal, and through the wine country of California. Visiting wineries and the many friends Gary had cultivated from years in the business. The couple gathered inspiration that they would bring back and use to create the Chateau Le Gari. The barrel room, patios and tasting room are all welcoming spaces with multi-use possibilities. This is a place where everyone is welcome, there is no elitist feel whatsoever, much to the contrary, you will feel like a neighbor or even family when you walk through the door. Not a wine connoisseur? No problem, do a tasting see what you like, the staff is always ready to share descriptions and suggestions. They are also adept in whipping up wine slushee’s if that is more to your liking. In addition, Gary and Caroline have several creative options for any event you may be planning, from

Photos Courtesy of Chateau Le Gari

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Photos by Ali Kaufman

Weddings to Showers, Birthdays to Retirement, if you want to celebrate it they are accommodating and ready to work with you to realize the event of your dreams.

They have found that a capacity of about 125 works well, while the venue can hold many more, this number allows for an experience that people can enjoy without feeling overwhelmed or lost in the crowd. If you want control over catering, table set up and the like, you are welcome to take the reigns but know that they are more than able to help you with all of that and have much of what you may need already on property.

Open year round, barring any more pandemic closings, each season brings something different. There are picnic tables and fire rings set up along the Fawn Brook that runs the length of their property, creating an absolutely perfect place to perch for a picnic! They welcome guests to also enjoy the flourishing wild life that they live side by side with. Bird lovers, bring your binoculars, you are sure to get an eyeful on most any day. Another way they cohabitate with their surroundings is to not use harmful products on the vines. Birds that have moved into the houses they put up take care of most incests and a family of Bobcats has been keeping the grape loving deer and turkeys in check.

Wine making, I’ve learned from my conversation with Gary, is a dance of sorts, with Mother Nature playing the tune. Next combine science with experience and throw in some luck for good measure. Before the harvest in September the month of August is when the grapes go through a process of veraison, meaning the grapes begin to change color from green to red or translucent for the white wines. Which by the way Gary reminds me white wine is clear not white of course!

This is also the time when the ripening grape’s sugar content grows and decisions need to be made according to the forecasted weather and what’s happening in the field. The refractometer is one of the tools to help guide decisions by measuring the sugar content but, “if you’ve done it long enough, you know when it’s right.” Gary also went on to say the they had a beautiful fruit set this year, thanks again in part to the gravely soil that births his vines.

This year I attended one of their dinner events, held in the largest of the rooms, seated at beautifully finished wood tables that run almost the entire width of the room. The evening featured a 5 course meal expertly prepared by Chef Michael Damato, plated artistically and served at perfect temperature. The meal had wine pairings and music by Scott Fellows whom serenaded us but still made it possible to have a conversation. I was glad of that because we were seated next to the most interesting couple that had arrived at the Chateau in their RV for a night of boondocking. Gary’s property is listed on Harvest Host, a travel club site offering unique camping experiences at vineyards, breweries, farms and other surprising locations like museums and attractions. Also this year the Chateau launched what they hope will be a tradition with the Bayou Boogie on Friday of Labor Day weekend. Being extra cautious about Covid led them to keep the inaugural festival guests to a number that allowed for wide spacing, lots of room to dance, no waiting in lines for food/drink and plenty of seating/tables for any guests that wanted them. Musical line up included Steve Riley who made the trip from Louisiana for his first performance in almost 2 years, they hope to have him back next year.

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Weather permitting, Sunday’s, they have live music on the patio, if weather is not so agreeable it is moved inside. While inside I would also invite you to check out the large scale paintings that adorn the walls, they are Caroline’s creations and some are for sale. Caroline grew up in Colchester and has found a way to keep a whole bunch of plates spinning! Besides being an integral part of every facet of running the winery, event planning and booking music, she is Mom to the couple’s young son Jesse who clearly is the apple of both his parents eye’s. This is a family business and they have a gift for making you feel welcome, maybe it’s the southern hospitality or just the fact they are happy to be living the life they are creating, whatever it is you are invited to experience for yourself…and bring a friend while you are at it! Cheers!

Please visit chateaulegari.com for details, info and hours.

Stay connected by signing up for their emails so you won’t miss a thing.

Photo Top and Right: by Ali Kaufman Bottom Left: Photo Courtesy of Chateau Le Garii

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“This is a family business and they have a gift for making you feel welcome, maybe it’s the southern hospitality or just the fact they are happy to be living the life they are creating...”

Photo by Marisa Balletti-Lavoie, Sassy Mouth Photo

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“After Seeing a Master in One Trade, You Start Recognizing Masters in Others”

Guy Wolff P o t t e r y

by Toni Leland Images Courtesy of Guy Wolff/Visko Hatfield Photography

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“I grew up in this very chemically frothed creative environment where the only rule was that you should follow your passion, and that

big deal.”

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“Following your dream has costs,...People say that artists have to feel pain.

That’s not true, because you’re so in love with what you do that you don’t mind.”

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37 conic Connecticut potter, Guy Wolff has followed his passion for perfect pottery since his high school years at High Mowing in New Hampshire.

“My mom was a hobby potter,” says Wolff, “and I played on the wheel when I was four or five years old. But at High Mowing, there was this very well-developed pottery department which set the stage for all these people to talk about nature and beauty and where creativity comes from.” He smiles. “Right away, I became interested in antique pottery.”

Wolff’s creativity came naturally. His father was an Abstract Expressionist--a Bauhaus person--which meant there were always designers in Wolff’s early years. “Marcel Breuer was the designer of the original Whitney Museum in New York,” says Wolff. “Breuer also invented the tubular chair known as the Wassily Chair and the Cesca Chair. Another artist who was always around was Alexander Calder, a modernist sculptor who invented the mobile.”

Wolff spent his summers in the New York countryside amid a group of extremely exciting people. “They were all obligated to find their own interesting path,” he says. “I grew up in this very chemically frothed creative environment where the only rule was that you should follow your passion, and that finding your path was a really big deal.”

Wolff became enthralled with New England historic crockery and old jugs. “Breuer had a beautiful 1820 bottle from Boston, and the form was so amazing because of the vigor of the hand that made it,” says Wolff.

He points out that when you look at things like a Han Dynasty bowl or a Ming Dynasty vase, or a 19th Century salt glaze from Korea, or Connecticut red-ware from the 18th

"...and the form was so amazing because of the vigor of the hand that made it,”

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Century, they all have that vigor, and the forms knew where they were going. Wolff says, “They weren’t muddy--they had a line that went from one place to another, on purpose.”

“Every form of art has symmetry; there can be tension, but there has to be balance.”

In the 60s, Wolff’s goal was to find anyone left that did that trade. “Everyone else was at Woodstock,” he says. “I was in North Carolina at a pottery called Jugtown.”

He learned that the Owens family had come from Wales in the late 1700s and had been making pottery in the Piedmont ever since. A few still exist in the South, but New England had none. So Wolff spent the summer between junior and senior years working at that pottery, and he says it completely woke him up. “After seeing a master in one trade, you start recognizing masters in others,” he says.

Wolff is fond of quoting his father’s philosophy: Tradition is not a form to be imitated, but the discipline that gives integrity to the new.

“You can be a Modernist, or someone who is interested in old-time pots,” says Wolff. “People ask if I replicate them, but what I’m interested in is why those old pots are so good and what physicality made that happen.”

The material is key. “You can’t make it do what you want,” he says. “You have to work with the attributes that it has and utterly respect that. Then have a conversation with it. Respond to the materials. Every form of art has symmetry; there can be tension, but there has to be balance.”

Wolff’s pottery graces the homes and gardens of famous and not-so-famous people and has been featured in many well-known magazines, but is still easily available for anyone in Wolff’s Bantam studio shop.

39 “I’ve been extremely lucky,” he says. “I was a junior in high school when my work was on the cover of Ladies Home Journal because they were doing something on how to make your kitchen beautiful.

Another story was for Victoria magazine; the buyer for a high-end shop saw the story at her dentist’s office.”

After a cover for Horticulture magazine, Wolff received three phone calls in a row that morning.

“The first call was the head garden curator for historic plants at Monticello,” says Wolff. “I no sooner got off the phone than a call came in from Boston from someone who needed pots for her 2,000-acre estate. Then the phone rings again, and there is silence on the other end. Finally, a man asked where the nearest airport was and said he wanted to fly his gardener out to my shop. He wanted me to design his garden.”

Wolff laughs. “Instead of asking who it was, I asked him what he did for a living that he could afford to do that. Pretty impolite of me. But he finally told me that he owned two computer companies. It was Steve Jobs.”

“It took me 15 years to become an overnight success, to quote Emerson,” Wolff says.

All that success came with hard work. Wolff loves making flower pots out of red clay because that’s what taught him how to throw. “I’m 70 years old, and I still throw 50,000 pounds of pottery a year,” he says. “But the old-time good potters threw half a ton a day!”

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“You have to work with the attributes that it has and utterly respect that.

Then have a conversation with it.”

The studio is a fascinating place with an interesting aroma of clay and heat. The kilns used for firing the flower pots are school electric kilns and they fire every day. Wolff loads a kiln, taking care to space and stack and nest in a way that allows him to get the largest number of pots into a kiln. He explains that the more pots that can be fired at once, the more inventory can come out of a day’s work.

Shelves everywhere are filled with pottery in various stages, and the shop is full of finished wares, as well as examples of the different types of clay and glazes.

Wolff works in the pottery every day. “At 70, I sleep until I wake up.” He grins.

“Sometimes I get up at the crack of 10, then have breakfast and wander over to the pottery to do a little bit of stuff.” He starts throwing mid-afternoon until around 6:30, then has dinner and closes up the shop. Kilns are on and working, so he checks again around midnight.

Clay is not Wolff’s only talent. He is an accomplished musician on the banjo and guitar and worked summers playing rock and roll drums in North Carolina with Ralph Rinzler, co-founder of the folklife department at the Smithsonian.

Wolff has several albums of folk and bluegrass music and continues to play and fine-tune his skill.

“Following your dream has costs,” says Wolff. “People say that artists have to feel pain. That’s not true, because you’re so in love with what you do that you don’t mind.”

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AskAshley

Can You Prevent Seasonal Depression?

By Ashley Alt

With a little light therapy and the right attitude, the winter blues can be averted.

According to the Weather Channel, 30% of adults will experience symptoms of SAD this year.

They say summer is a state of mind. Funny how “they” only talk about summer being a state of mind in...the summer. Clearly, adopting a summer mindset is easy when you’re on the beach with your polka dot bikini sipping on a mai tai.

Due to my own experience of postpartum depression and good old fashioned mood swings, I have one hell of a time adjusting to the winter months, for which I have failed to adequately prepare for the sun setting before I make dinner. But this year, I am making a change, baby! I’m going to do everything I can to prevent bad

But what about when the skies have been grey for five consecutive days, the mornings and evenings growing darker by the minute, inadvertently affecting our ability to focus, and bringing that carefree summer energy from a “Let’s throw a pool party!” to a “Let’s crawl in bed at 2 pm.”Talk about a buzz kill.

moods, lack of focus, and low energy. And with the right attitude and gobs of willpower, I’m confident you can do the same.

Enter SAD, aka Seasonal Affective Disorder, which occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms of SAD include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal.

So how do you know if you actually have seasonal depression, or if you’re just feeling down in the dumps from the weather change?

While feeling a mood shift this time of year is completely normal, expected even, you should always consult with your doctor if you’re feeling off — feeling sad and fatigued most of the day, every day, for example, as well as losing interest in hobbies and feeling hopeless, might be cause for concern.

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Because I’m not a doctor, I can’t tell you what the cure is for your unique-to-you needs, but I can give you tangible ways to prevent the winter blues — both from my own experience and from the experts.

Just like we work out, eat healthy, drink water, and get adequate rest in order to ward off mental and physical illnesses, we can prevent feelings of seasonal depression in the same way. Key word here: Prevention.

Here are 5 ways we can tackle symptoms of SAD before they even get a chance to creep into our psyche. Because mood swings are never a good look.

1. Make the most of the sunlight. I have a saying in the winter months, “When the sun goes down, I go down,” meaning, I’m done working for the day and am ready to cook, have some wine, and unwind. This same mentality applies here, except the mantra changes to “When the sun is out, you go out.”You know the drill here. Go for walks in the middle of the day. Take meetings outside. Play with your kids in the yard when they get home from school. Treat the sunlight as the magical gift it is.

2. Add bright colors to your environment. Taking advantage of sun time brings me to my next point of reference — incorporating bright colors into your every day. This can be anything from a vase of royal blue flowers at your desk to making a habit of making a pretty pink smoothie for your afternoon pick-me-up. Whether you brighten up your face with makeup, paint your office wall orange, or invest in a rainbow loveseat, make sure you see (and feel!) the fabulous effects of color on the daily.

3. Remember that food has a huge influence on our mood. According to the wellness gurus from Happiful Magazine, 90% of our serotonin and 50% of our dopamine is produced in our gut. What does it mean?

Eating more oily fish (like salmon), egg yolk, good fats (like avocado and natural almond butter), low-sugar breakfast cereals (like oatmeal), and fermented foods (like sauerkraut), are your ticket to warding off sluggishness. Remember that food is fuel.

4. Give light therapy a whirl. A useful tool to treat SAD is a light therapy box, aka a special lamp that mimics actual sunshine.

According to cognitive behavioral psychologists, sitting in front of a light therapy box for 30 minutes a day will stimulate your body’s circadian rhythms, suppressing its natural release of melatonin (the hormone that helps you sleep). Experts suggest using the lightbox first thing in the morning when it is said to be most effective. I’m excited to finally give this one a go this year.

5. Take vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” has been touted as being one the most effective ways to keep the pep in your step during the months between October and March. You should be able to find vitamin D supplements at your local health stores, or you can find them online. I am also looking forward to incorporating this one into my winter routine, as I have yet to try it.

There you have it. As we head into October, let’s remember what makes this month fabulous, like pumpkin patches, Halloween parties, specialty beers and wine, and arguably the best time for backyard bonfires and book clubs.

While the cold weather months are no summer vacation, they do have their perks.

Happy October!

To keep up with Ashley, sign up for her mindset health newsletter, https://ashleyalt.substack.com/welcome.

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“We were told you are the foremost expert on this language—second only to the victim.”

By Daniel Lev Shkolnik

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P

rofessor Jubilee was dead. As she lay in her office, investigators circled her body, pausing to take photos. Their white gloves crawled among her belongings like cave creatures blindly searching for food.

“Professor Rhine, help me understand,” said the detective, “why would your wife write her final words in a language no one could read?”

“I’ve told you already, I don’t know.”

“We were told the letters come from a certain book she was translating, the—”

“The Lockhart Codex,” said Professor Rhine.

“We were told you are the foremost expert on this language—second only to the victim.”

“No one is an expert in this language. People have been trying to translate it since it was first discovered a century ago. Linguists, anthropologists, cryptographers. It’s like no language we know of. No one can decipher it.”

“Maybe you’ll be the second person in the world to crack it.” The detective turned to look at the body of Rachel Jubilee.

“It looks like she was the first.”

On the floor beside her was a single sentence written in the same language as the codex. The letters were traced in her own blood.

“We’d appreciate your cooperation, Professor.”

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That night, Professor Lucas Rhine shot up in bed. His eyes darted back and forth as if seeking a black predator in the shadows of his room. Leaving the sheets like a troubled sea behind him, he made his way to his desk. He spilled out the contents of his briefcase and pushed everything aside except the photo the detective had given him. On the edge of the photograph, he could see her bloody fingers, curled up like a crab—in the center was her final sentence.

Lucas Rhine pulled a robe over his shoulders and descended into his basement. He moved aside the dusty exercise bike and made his way to the very back of the cellar where he kept his old notes on the codex. Water had browned the corners of some of the cardboard boxes. They were numbered up through 32.

As he looked at the archive, he felt something brush against his ankle. He screamed and shot his flashlight left and right. Nothing moved. All he saw was a lumpy underworld of his own forgotten things. “I need to call an exterminator,” he said.

Professor Rhine carried box 32 up the stairs and let it thunk atop his desk. These were the final pages he’d written on the subject before he abandoned hope of ever translating the book. He looked through the old notes until he was sure that the words Rachel had written were not a quotation from the codex. They formed an original sentence.

“How did she do it?” he said.

The Lockhart Codex, named after the collector who discovered it, appeared in the late 1800s, but was written several centuries earlier. Mr. Lockhart became obsessed with the manuscript, convinced its pages contained a great secret. No one took him seriously. He spent years attempting to translate it on his own and over time became increasingly paranoid, believing someone else was after the secret. He entrusted the book to a university librarian and promised to return in three days but was never heard from again.

Professor Rhine remembered how he and Rachel first learned about the strange book. They were grad students at the time. Many people had already tried and failed to translate the manuscript.

Their professors warned them that if they hoped to build respectable careers for themselves, they should leave the book alone. Neither of them listened. They studied the Lockhart Codex together, published in academic journals together, and eventually became the foremost scholars on the ob-

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scure book. While they could never translate a single sentence, their dogged attempts resulted in unexpected contributions to cryptography, linguistic analysis, and medieval symbology.

After the heart attack, everything changed.

Lucas awoke in the hospital with a haunting sense that he had wasted his life. “Rachel,” he said, “the book—maybe it doesn’t mean anything?”

She looked at him as if he were a stranger.

“It means everything.”

Try as he did, Lucas couldn’t bring himself to continue working on the codex. Rachel on the other hand spent more and more of her life in its pages. He would go to sleep alone while she labored under a green library lamp. In the end, a series of massive arguments tore through their marriage, each worse than the last.

“If you’re not here to help,” she said, “then leave.”

He moved out. And although they did not divorce, she began to teach and publish papers about the Lockhart Codex under her maiden name, Jubilee. At the time of her death, they hadn’t spoken in two years.

As the sun rose in Professor Rhine’s window, it found him writing furiously. Two empty pen cartridges rolled at his elbow. The whites of Professor Rhine’s eyes were cracked with veins. His shirt was yellow under the pits.

It was in this state that Lucas Rhine tore through the department of cryptology and barged into the office of Steven Baxter.

“Baxter!” The professor waved the Lockhart Codex in front of his nose and slammed it atop the cryptographer’s paperwork. “I was wrong. There is a translation. I’m certain of it.”

“Lucas, you look terrible.”

Professor Rhine snatched up a piece of chalk and began wildly scratching symbols into the nearest blackboard. “I need you to run a statistical analysis on the distribution of letters in the book. I know we’ve tried that before, but this time I want to—” “Lucas, are you working on this to help the investigation?”

“The investigation?” Professor Rhine stopped his assault on the chalkboard.

“The detectives came by my office last night.”

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“What for?”

“They came to ask about you. About you and Rachel.”

“Baxter, we don’t have time for this. This could be the biggest discovery of our careers.

You were working with her up until the end. You must know something. What was the last conversation you had with her? What were her final ideas before the breakthrough? We can re-create it. We can publish together!”

“Stop it, Lucas.”

Professor Rhine’s smile disappeared. He wiped his face with his hands and leaned against a bookshelf.

In silence, Dr. Baxter stared at the old codex that now sat on his table. Its dark leather cover curled at the edges. He thought of all the years of work that had disappeared between its pages—all the minds it had lured with mystery and promise. One by one, it consumed them all. A chill ran through him.

“Baxter, please, I beg you. What was the last thing she did before she translated the codex?”

“She went to visit someone she believed had already done it.”

“Someone already cracked it? Who? Has it been published already? Baxter! How haven’t I heard about this? Where are they? What institute are they a part of?”

“He’s at Beacon Heights.”

“The psychiatric hospital?” Lucas looked at him without understanding. “He’s a psychiatrist?”

“No, Lucas. The man is insane.”

To be continued in the next issue …

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Dogs, Drones & Kiwi Conservationists Are Saving Costa Rica’s Wildlife

By Caryn B. Davis Photos Courtesy of Earthrace

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Captain Pete Bethune and his crew are accompanied by 3 armed rangers from MINAE, the Ministry of Environment and Energy in Costa Rica. They are in a 4.7-meter inflatable zodiac racing towards a yacht illegally fishing near Cano Island, a biological marine reserve. Utilizing a $4 million CAMCOPTER® S-100 drone, Bethune gathered footage of the unlawful activity prior to boarding the vessel. Recorded evidence is effective especially when the offenders refute the violation. The captain of the American vessel pleads ignorance, claiming he had no knowledge Cano Island was a reserve. He is let off with a warning, although the rangers did have the jurisdiction to make an arrest or confiscate the gear or boat.

“We don’t want to put people in prison, we just want them to stop. Once they realize they are being inspected by drones, word gets around, and we see fewer people taking these chances,” Bethune says.

Bethune is living and working onboard a 43.2-meter, converted World War II era U.S. Navy ship. He has refitted it to accommodate the drone which requires a 10x10 meter landing pad, and the other equipment he uses in his work with Earthrace Conservation, a non-profit organization he founded to save animals and habitats worldwide. He undertakes missions globally always partnering with local authorities like MINAE, the institution responsible for the welfare of Costa Rica’s national parks and wildlife refuges.

“We don’t want to put people in prison, we just want them to stop. Once they realize they are being inspected by drones, word gets around, and we see fewer people taking these chances,”

57 The Modoc has been anchored in Golfito Bay since January 2020. With the onset of covid, Bethune was invited to remain in port by Carlos Manual Rodriguez, the country’s former Environment and Energy Minister, to assist with their fishery and jungle patrols. He met Rodriguez in 2013 when he was in Costa Rica filming episodes for his television show The Operatives, which aired in 90 countries and followed his team of military veterans and civilian specialists apprehending environmental criminals.

Bethune signed a $0 agreement, so he offers his services in illegal fishing, poaching, gold mining, logging and farming, as a volunteer. He provides the use of his ship, two small inflatable vessels, a K9 tracking unit, the drone, food and onboard housing for the rangers, and fuel. This collaboration gives the national park authority access to technology and resources they wouldn’t have otherwise, especially as the government struggles to regain financial footing after the pandemic.

“There is no way Costa Rica could justify a $4 million drone for patrols. The drone is sponsored by Scheibel, the manufacturer, so it doesn’t cost me anything. With it I can provide an extremely valuable service,” says Bethune.

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“We’ve got people cutting trees and dragging them out. Others chop them down to build houses and start living and hunting in the park,”

Bethune and his team use the drone, camera and acoustic traps, and a Belgian Malinois dog trained specifically for tracking and anti-poaching by the organization “Animals Saving Animals”. Historically, national parks were patrolled by men on foot carrying firearms so these tools are game changers when it comes to locating illicit activity within a vast jungle. The cameras were donated by the U.S. Embassy for use in the Corcovado National Park to surveil drug trafficking, but they also work well for gathering intelligence on the conservation side, so it has become a joint effort.

The number one illegal activity in the Corcovado is gold mining. It erodes the creek beds and impacts wildlife. Sometimes the miners use toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury to separate the gold from the silt. But it doesn’t end there. There is only so much food the miners can carry in and when that runs out, they shoot the protected animals. Poaching, illegal logging and farming within the park boundary are also problematic.

“We’ve got people cutting trees and dragging them out. Others chop them down to build houses and start living and hunting in the park,” Bethune says.

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The cameras are set up throughout the jungle and when a trap is triggered, the images appear on a computer at the ranger station and onboard the ship when networked, providing real time data. The team then decides to keep monitoring the situation or head into the Corcovado with the tracking dog which is also trained to physically hold a suspect.

“Often the most dangerous time is when you first come across a poacher. They are likely to pull a gun, a knife, or a machete, but the dog generally calms things down. They don’t know what the behavior of dog will be. They might be prepared to take on a ranger but not a dog,” explains Bethune.

A lot of people also get caught when the drone picks up a heat signature from campfires in areas where no camping is allowed, and within parts of the park reserved for animals.

The acoustic traps were purchased by OSA Conservation, and donated to Earthrace. They pick up audio from gunshots, generators, vehicles, etc., within a 3-kilometer range to pinpoint the position of the activity more accurately.

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“ You haven’t lived until you’ve found a cause worth dying for. My cause is saving wildlife.

I know one day it may take my life. I am OK with that.

My life has real meaning,” Bethune’s entree into conservation was in 2006. After selling his house in New Zealand, he designed and built a high-tech boat powered solely by biodiesel to prove its viability as an alternative fuel source.

Earthrace broke the world record for a circumnavigation with biofuel in 2008, visited 186 cities, hosted tours for over 250,000 people. But Bethune became disillusioned as forests and habitats were destroyed to plant palm trees to produce palm oil.

In 2009, he partnered with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Earthrace was purchased by conservationist Ady Gil with the stipulation that Bethune captain the ship in Antarctica to protest Japanese whaling. The vessel was rammed by the Japanese boat, Shonan Maru 2, and scuttled. Bethune boarded the Shonan Maru 2 to present the captain with a bill for the damage but was arrested and jailed in a Japanese prison. His arrest gained media attention, changing the whaling narrative. The Japanese were ordered to cease whaling by the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

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While the experience was horrific, it did change Bethune’s mind about conservation work, as dangerous and as unpredictable as it is. Since then, he has run campaigns worldwide, saving seals from clubbings in Namibia; closing 2 wildlife smuggling rings of forest turtles and pangolins in Asia; stopping illegal fishing in Palawan, recusing pink dolphins from being killed for meat in the Peruvian Amazon, saving endangered red monkeys from the illegal pet trade in the Amazon, shutting down 2 gold mining operations in Costa Rica, and much more, all while dogging bullets, almost dying from a poisonous snake bite, and nearly being stabbed to death. Still, he persists.

“Our campaigns take us to difficult places. We take on criminal gangs that are morally bankrupt with deep pockets. But this is the cause we choose to fight for, and we know the risks. You haven’t lived until you’ve found a cause worth dying for.

My cause is saving wildlife. I know one day it may take my life. I am OK with that. My life has real meaning,” Bethune says.

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Hooked On Metal Column and photos by John Tolmie It is rare occurrence when the universe grants one of those unforgettable moments in life when a dream comes true for an individual while in pursuit of a passion or hobby. A mountain climbers’ ultimate bucket list lies atop the Earths highest peak halfway around the globe, where the mysterious Nepalese summit of Mount Everest awaits. The holy grail for every golfer that has ever swung a club, is to someday become a lifetime member of the exclusive hole in one club. After putting in dozens of spearfishing trips, finally getting that perfect day with calm seas, clear water, and fish stacked top to bottom is a rare and magical moment. There have been more than a few times when resilience overcame obstacles presented by nature, me and others, that has paid off for this crusty columnist. Fishing the oceans of the world, making original art, writing captivating

stories, cooking delicious seafood, and playing rock and roll are a few obsessions of mine that interweave at times. Yet, there was a recent event where four of these interests came together as one on a perfect Indian summer day. But first, let’s set the stage where it all began just a couple years ago.

As an aficionado of rock and roll, leaning to the heavier side of the genre, my drum kit needed a new home and was welcomed to

backline Black North, a local eastern Connecticut experimental metal band. We played one of our earliest shows at the New England Stoner and Doom Metal Fest at Altones Music Hall in Jewett City. Twenty some odd bands from all over the Northeast flocked to the Quiet Corner for a day of heavy grooves, sharing news and cracking brews. After Black North had played our set, I packed the drums, wiped off the sweat, changed into a fresh t-shirt and planned to take a few

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minutes outside to cool down a bit.

Suddenly, an amazing sound blurted from the propped open rear exit door. As if by instinct, I jumped down from the railing and ran inside to investigate who or what had just hit the stage. I pushed my way to the front of the crowd and squeezed myself in to bear witness to something quite unique. To the left of center, a massive, bearded creature, reminiscent of a Sasquatch, worked the neck of a vintage guitar with stoic and methodical precision. To the very right of the stage, hunched a scrapy wolverine-like chap that thundered forth a compliment of rhythms on his electric axe. The bass guitarist laid down a consistent crunch of deep fuzz as he rocked his body in synch with the others. At center

drummer. Drumming is one of my passions and I needed make proper introductions. I stuck out my hand, but instead, the towering drummer smiled, sidestepped my hand, and embraced me. Since that night Josh the drummer and I have forged a lifelong friendship and bond of true brotherhood.

stage bellowed a mad scientist who howled haunting hymns of vocal melodies that rose in perfect opposition, fell in agreement, and then joined together in a harmony of power.

Behind the drums I finally discovered my spirit animal. Another furry cryptid of lore painted his drum kit with sticks in rhythmic

back beats fused with hints of jazz. The ensemble of the five goons hailed from the mountains of New Hampshire and called themselves Scuzzy Yeti. Their set melded with heavy cosmic ethereal tones and filled Altones Music Hall with a fresh distinctiveness tone.

After their set, I made a beeline to the

My wife and I have visited him and his lady in their mountain side home up north a few times. The rest of the band even invited me to their ‘church’, an ancestral barn where they create their unique sounds of mountain rock. I jammed with them for a few hours one night and it was one of the most magical times I've ever had. In appreciation I invited them down to the rocky shores of Connecticut to go fishing on the high seas. Four out of the five members of the troupe made their way down and spent the night the day before our trip. Before the

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sun rose over the water, six of us boarded a charter boat and cast off for a fishing expedition off the Coast of Mystic, Watch Hill and Fishers Island. It was an amazing time to be able to be on the high seas with one of my favorite bands from New England and I was going to ensure my friends would not return home with empty coolers. So, I had reached out to Captain Wild Bill of Noank Actions Sports and booked his charter to keep a promise of tight lines that day. Wild Bill is a

professional in everything he does, and he is the highest reputed boat captain working in Connecticut today. As the sun broke over the horizon, Captain Bill gave the word for his first mate Andy to open the bails for action. The days first buzz of the lines letting loose always brings a smile to my face. It would be the beginning of non-stop action from that moment on. Six of us, including Jay, Brad, Chris and Josh of Scuzzy Yeti, plus Steve and myself from Black Horse Rebellion, rounded out the motley crew as we took turns two by two at the aft fishing station. Without warning both rods bend and the reels whine in protest as fish had swallowed the umbrella rig hooks. High fives and hoots accompanied the fray as healthy keeper striped bass plopped on the deck. Jay, the stoic guitarist even found a smile crossing his lips. It is hard not to find joy on the high seas, especially when the fish are hungry! Next up, Steve

and Josh take their turns as we troll lazily behind Fishers Island. The starboard rod bows as Josh sets the hook. The fight between fish and yeti was intense. Josh is no slouch, but after reeling in a thirty-six-inch plump striper, he laughed that he was about gassed out. After a few quick photos, the

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even more fierce than Josh’s catch. Sweat beaded across Steve’s forehead as he struggled to close the gap between the fish and the boat. Finally, Steve had fought the beast close enough for the first-mate to pull the hefty pelagic over the side. Steve lets loose in a flurry of happy expletives at the sight of his reward. It was a massive bluefish, affectionately known as a saltwater piranha, at over thirty-eight inches who bit at the air as rows of sharp teeth snapped together in dispute. The fish just kept filling the cooler one after another all day long! It was an amazing time with everyone catching at least one striped bass and several bluefish each. As with all things when you’re having fun, time flew by and our time to return to land had arrived. bass was released unharmed over the side to live another day. Steve had been looking back at the latest catch but suddenly turned aft to witness his rod bend with fury. It was another brutal fight between scale and skin. Whatever had chomped down at the end of the line was

At the dock, the first mate handed each one of us a gallon baggy full of fresh fillets. In turn, we handed the mate a wad of cash and words of gratitude for a job well done. We bid Wild Bill farewell and headed down the see Marc at Mystic

Oysters for a bag of freshly harvested mollusks to round out a proper New England seafood fest. As always, Marc hand-picked a dozen select oysters that are perfect for grilling. The boys settled in and cracked a few local IPA’s as I helmed the grill lined with sizzling oysters and fresh wild caught bass. Grilled oysters were served in their shell with the natural flavor of the oceans brine. Not much fanfare for the bass fillets either. Just a pinch of salt and pepper was added to enhance the organic taste. The smoker worked its magic as the bluefish slowly cured in a swirl of applewood fumes. Little by little we enjoyed our bounty from the sea as we laughed and bonded as brothers of Rock and Roll and sons of all mighty Neptune.

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"!" !

! "

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By Daniel Lev Shkolnik

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" WE SHAPE

OUR BUILDINGS THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US" Winston Churchill

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Paul Rudolph Yale School of Art and Achitecture.

Béton brut is a French term that translates in English to raw concrete. The term is used to describe concrete that is left unfinished after being cast. displaying the patterns and seams imprinted on it by the formwork.

Béton brut is not a material itself, but rather an architectural expression of concrete”*

I

n 1969, a fire ravaged the Yale Arts and Architecture building. There’s no proof, but a popular theory holds the fire was an act of arson by architecture students in rebellion against the building itself and the rigid, inflexible style it represented. That style was Brutalism.

If you’ve ever walked the streets of New Haven, you likely know how they look: Colossal, concrete buildings. They come in all your favorite flavors of grey. While many hate living in their shadow, others travel from far and wide to photograph them or gaze up to marvel that these beasts exist at all.

When it comes to Brutalism, New Haven is a veritable zoo. Specimens include the Rudolph Building which houses the Yale Architecture School. The Becton Center which holds many of he university’s labs. Ezra Styles and Morse college. Ingalls Rink. The New Haven Fire Headquarters. The Temple St. Parking Garage. The Pirelli Tire Building. The former New Haven Coliseum. (And there are others.)

Brutalism comes from the French beton brut which means raw concrete. The style flourished briefly in the ‘60s and ‘70s before falling into disfavor. The reason for such a dense concentration of Brutalist architecture in one place is in large part because of the Yale Architecture School. It attracted many of the movement’s American luminaries. As a result, New Haven became a petri dish for modernist construction.

Of all modernist architecture—perhaps of any architectural—Brutalism tends to elicit the most intense reactions. People either love it or they hate it. There’s virtually no middle ground. On a Reddit architecture forum, one user described feeling “physically sick and hopeless” around

* http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Béton_brut

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…I have decided to make beauty by contrast.

I will find its complement and establish a play between crudity and finesse, between the dull and the intense, between precision and accident.

I will make people think and reflect, this is the reason for the violent, clamorous, triumphant polychromy of the facades.

Le Courbusier

these structures and compared them to an “Orwellian nightmare.” In response, fans of the style came to its defense, citing its “castle-like” solidity and bold structural qualities. Others just shrugged and said they found it beautiful.

The debate about Brutalism rages far beyond Connecticut. In fact, if Brutalism had a hood ornament, it might well be Boston City Hall.

The building is situated next to the elegant, colonial-era Faneuil Hall, and Bostonians sometimes joke that it’s “the box Faneuil Hall came in.” Not long ago, the argument over modernism’s role in public architecture played out on the national stage. In February 2020, former President Trump issued an executive order called “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again,” which mandated all new federal buildings be built in a classical Greco-Roman style. The architecture world reeled.

According to Duo Dickenson, a Connecticut-based architect, there’s a split between what architects love and what the public loves. He estimates that among architects, about 90% love modernism and 10% love Above:Paul Rudolph Yale School of Art and Achitecture a view.

Below: Ingalls Rink, the “Yale Whale.”

Detail Above of the coffered concrete ceiling vaults of a metro station in Washington D.C., designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese.

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classicism. Among the general public, he estimates about 30% are in favor of modernism and 70% are for classicism. When it comes to Brutalism in particular, the numbers might be even more skewed. “[Brutalism] gives the finger to anything representational,” says Dickenson. Although most of the public dislikes its colorless, fortress-like constructions, in recent years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the style.

Dickenson says a number of websites have popped up offering nostalgic retrospectives on Brutalism and proclaiming their love for the beleaguered style.

Brutalism “doesn’t care about human use,” says Dickenson. That’s in part why younger architects, he says, are drawn to it. They love Brutalism because it gives emphasis to the basics of an architect’s toolkit such as form, mass, void, line, light, and shadow.

But this same disdain for human use is also what made so many of these buildings into functional failures. “They looked really cool,” Dickenson says, “but were incredibly dangerous and bad buildings.”

Above: Armstrong Rubber Company HQ, aka Pirelli Building, Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel Below: Central Fire Station, 952 Grand Avenue, New Haven CT Opposite Page: George Crawford Manor, 90 Park Street, New Haven CT

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“It’s incredibly modernist, and yet it’s sacred. [In that place] we experience—however you want to call it—God. There are glimpses of that kind of magic in the [Grand Avenue] Firehouse.”

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“[Brutalism] gives the finger to anything representational,”

Yale Becton Center & Davies Auditorium New Haven CT. Designed by architect Marcel Breuer.

77 The New Haven Coliseum, completed in 1972, is a perfect example of this. It was a “raucously aggressive statement,” according to Dickenson.

The parking lot was situated above the arena’s performance space. It had several tall spiral ramps that ran up its sides, and drivers had to climb tight corkscrews to reach a parking space. Poor construction led to structural instability. By the ‘80s, pieces of concrete from the garage were falling onto the sidewalk below. The arena was renovated, but over time, other costs mounted. It became a White Elephant, draining resources without much return. “Architects were mortified when the building was torn down,” says Dickenson. “But it was torn down because it didn’t work.”

However, many of New Haven’s Brutalist buildings really do “walk the talk.” Not only are they abstract and aggressive and uniquely innovative, but they also fulfill the functions they were built to complete. Dickenson points to Ingalls Rink, or the “Yale Whale” as it’s affectionately called, as an example of Brutalism that works. Not only does it fulfill its purpose, it does so beautifully. It’s one of the few examples of the style that is widely loved. “No matter who you are, you love that building,” says Dickenson.

Recently, the 2021 New Haven Preservation Trust award was given to the New Haven Fire Headquarters located at 952 Grand Avenue.

Completed in 1961, the fire station is a strong example of functional Brutalism. While critics might stick up their nose at the choice, Dickenson is against this kind of aesthetic tribalism. Judging something only on how it looks amounts to a form of architectural prejudice.

It comes down to personal preference and taste—something about which it’s difficult to make objective statements. Instead, he argues, we should look at how well it does its job.

He points to the Vietnam Memorial where the names of fallen soldiers are etched into black walls that cut into the earth. “It’s incredibly modernist, and yet it’s sacred. [In that place] we experience—however you want to call it— God. There are glimpses of that kind of magic in the [Grand Avenue] Firehouse.”

What the divine—or however you want to call it—really looks like, nobody knows. It might be that the colossi of Brutalism have as much magic within them as anything else human hands have built.

Above: New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Temple Street Garage, Close-ups, Temple Street Garage, 1 Temple Street, New Haven CT

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The

Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Best in Family, Part II This is a continuation of last month’s Ink article about “Best in Family” cheeses. Here’s a few more families to consider.

• Fresh Cheese (Best in Family-Mozzarella) These cheeses are often called unripened. They are very young cheeses with a short shelf life of only a few weeks, at most, from production.

They generally go through a transition of fresh to tart to sour.

Examples would be: Cottage, Ricotta, Farmer cheese, Mozzarella and Cream cheese. You will also find many goat and sheep cheeses that fit into this family as well.

Mozzarella is the largest selling cheese in the United States. The reason why is Pizza.

• Dutch (Gouda) (Best in FamilyKanaal) This has become not only one of the most popular cheese families but one of the largest volumes by weight of any cheese family sold.

Most are over six months in age and lactose free. Not only growing in popularity they are also growing in selection of milk. In the last twenty years, I have seen so many new goat and sheep milk versions make the scene. The goudas are usually consistent and keep well. These are medium ripening cheeses that are most often waxed. You will only notice small changes month to month as they ripen.

Kanaal is a relatively new cheese in the world only being a few years old. It is technically not a Gouda because when made, the cheese has both a starter culture of Reggiano in addition to the Gouda starter.

That is the only difference. What people really like about this cheese is the presence of little crunchy crystals. These crystals are present because of a sweet and salty tasting amino acid called tyrosine found in the milk. As the cheese ages and dries, the tyrosine in the cheese crystalizes and provides the little crunch.

Examples are: Cow Goudas, Beemster Vlaskaas, Beemster Classic, Beemster XO, Dutch Edam, French Mimolette, Dutch Kanaal, Goat Goudas, Dutch Polder Goat, Dutch Midnight Moon, Dutch Girl, and Beemster goatSheep Goudas, Dutch Ewephoria, Dutch Lamb Chopper, French Ossau Iraty

• Tilsit (Best in Family-Italian Crucolo) This family used to be so much more prevalent than it is today. Many countries across Europe made some type of Tilsit. Back in the sixties Denmark renamed their version of Tilsit and called it Havarti. This was done in an effort to not compete with other countries Tilsit’s.

They added more butterfat (60%) and called it creamed Havarti.

Then they took it one step further by removing the initial washed rind covering which gave the old version it’s flavor, and packing it in cry-o-vac, eliminating any kind of natural rind. Real Danish Tilsit, a very common item yesteryear is now almost impossible to find.

The plan worked.

Tilsits are a mild to medium aged cheeses usually with a small eye formation (holes). These cheeses are usually ready after a few months and hold up well. Most are on the mild side but they get more pungent with a little aging.

The very Popular Crucolo cheese comes from Trentino in northern Italy. It’s made by only one producer, Rifugio Crucolo. The cheese is made from cow’s milk and aged a minimum of two months. The whole wheel weighs about 400 pounds. It has a ivory tan color with a small eye formation (wholes) typical of all Tilsit cheeses.

The cheese is on the mild side with a semi soft texture. It is one of the best melting cheeses I’ve seen and it makes a great grilled cheese sandwich. I use it in place of mozzarella when making pizza.

Just to prove the popularity of this cheese just ask Peter Lovis, owner of the Cheese Shop of Concord Massachusetts. They hold an annual event in December with a 600-pound wheel made especially for them that’s delivered by a team of horses. It appears that the whole town comes out for the fun and the cheese. You can catch the action video on U-tube. Just look up Cheese Shop Concord Massachusetts Crucolo or Crucolo parade.

Examples are: Black Knight Austrian Tilsit. German Tilsit, Swiss Tilsit, Danish Tilsit (most popular being creamed Havarti), Swedish Farmers, Austrian Grinzing, Italian Crucolo

• English (Best in Family-Appleby Cheshire) These are the large group of cheese produced in Great Britain that have similar characteristics. They are known for a subtle buttermilk undertone with a crumbly texture. This is an over simplified definition for sure but great cheeses none the less. You really need to try the small farm production cheeses to truly appreciate them. Though related to cheddar they are different enough to be placed on the same tray.

The Appleby Cheshire is one of my favorites when I can get it. It’s always a special production order and it takes a month or two to get it.

Examples are: Appleby Cheshire (predates cheddar by 400 years), Caerphilly, Wensleydale, Leicester, Double Gloucester, Cotswold, and Lancashire.

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By Art LiPuma, “The Wine Seller” SeaSide Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook

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California’s Far Niente Winery

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his California vineyard was established in 1885 founded By John Benson. The vineyard had flourished until prohibition and was then neglected due to quite poor conditions. In 1979 Gil Nickel brought the old vineyard back to life and only after a few years, the building was recognized as a historic landmark with its careful and meticulous renovations.

The winery is extensive with 13 acres of rolling land, including 40,000 sq feet of winery caves. The caves were done as a necessity to store and age their top quality wines. The Gardens are also a sight not to miss when visiting there.

One of the most unique things about this winery is the “Floating Solar Panels," where the solar panels actually float on water. This enables the winery to run free of electricity. The winery also practices organic farming throughout all of their vineyards while reusing water for irrigation and also recycling throughout their vineyards.

Far Niente Winery is considered one of the top wine producers in Napa. In modern day, this winery has been producing wine on site since 1982, producing exceptional quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and their famous dessert wine called Dolce.

Far Niente wines are the flagship wines, and of course the best wines of the winery, however, they do have other labels in their portfolio. The second highest in quality and consistency is named Nickel & Nickel.

Producing wine from several vineyards with each one being from one single vineyard 100% of the varietal, Nickel & Nickel represents over 15 different single vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon covers different regions in Napa including Oakville, Rutherford, St Helena, Oak Knoll, Howell Mountain, and Yountville. They also make Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah.

All these wines are of the utmost quality and with all the different regions of Cabernets, they all have their own unique taste profile that is accented from that particular vineyard.

EnRoute was started in 2007 for the great interest of making a well structured Pinot Noir.These wines come from the Russian River Valley producing a Single Vineyard Pinot Noir called “Les Pommiers," a great example of well-structured Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay named “Brumaire has nice richness but well-balanced acidity.

They also have a free run style Pinot Noir made into their quite refreshing Rosé. This wine named as Facile á Boire has bright red fruits and a pleasing light finish.

Belle Union, a wine developed between Far Niente and Nickle & Nickel, produces Prestige Cabernet from Rutherford on 25 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The wines Post & Beam are named after the post and beams of a well-structured barn. These wines are straightforward well-structured wines; the Chardonnay not using malolactic enhances the wine to its natural bright acidity while still hanging on its rich body of the grape.

The other wine from this portfolio is Cabernet Sauvignon producing medium tannins and well- balanced fruit, makes this wine a traditional form of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lastly, is the vineyard Dolce producing the namesake wine Dolce also referred as “Liquid Gold." The vineyard is solely used to grow the grapes that go into this wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Far Niente is a first-class operation in producing some of the great wines of California with many different vineyards and not to be missed when visiting the Napa region of California.

Cheers!

Art LiPuma

From Our Garage to Your s

A ANT ONINO O AU UTO

GROU UP

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Celebrating 44 Years This October

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