Glastonbury, CT February 2023

LI F E + C U LTU R E

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Local Love Issue F E B R UA RY 2 02 3

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February 2023 PUBLISHER

Gary Perrelli | gary.perrelli@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Welcome to the "Local Love" Issue It's February and the hallmark of this month is Valentine's Day, the holiday that surely was invented (in part) to bridge the gap between the festivities at the end of each year and the spring weather we're all starting to dream about.

For us, February is our "Local Love" issue. We take a look within our communities at topics that exemplify that idea. We call it "local" love because while Valentine's Day is synonymous with romantic love, we like to look at other types of love that we can highlight this month.

For instance, there's the love among family and friends and even our love of our homes and communities.

This month we have a story about a unique family that lives here in Glastonbury. The Colp Family was living, working and going to school in China when the pandemic started in 2020. We spoke with Heather Colp about how the family of four came to be there and how they navigated the perils of Covid to make their way back to the home they love here in Glastonbury.

We also have a story about several businesses at the Glen Lochen Mall that are owned by married couples. We spoke to two of them about how they met their spouses and why they work together.

If you're getting engaged this Valentine's Day you'll want to check out our story about what to do before going to try on wedding dresses. We spoke with Abbie Paklos, owner of The Wedding Dress in Portland. It was an eye-opener even for us to learn about all the little things you have to pay attention to before shopping for a wedding gown.

We also spoke with administrators at the Talcott Mountain Academy in West Hartford about the advantages of sending young students to a science-focused private school.

And lastly, if you want to say "I Love You" with a sweet treat this Valentine's Day, our Culinary Creation this month is a unique coconut cake that combines a box cake with homemade frosting that gets jazzed up with a bit of Valentine's-day red in the form of raspberries.

We hope you find something to love in this month's issue of Glastonbury Lifestyle and that you have a lovely Valentine's Day! GARY PERRELLI, PUBLISHER @GL ASTONBURYLIFEST YLE

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/GL A STONBURY |

EDITOR

Eileen McNamara eileen.mcnamara@citylifestyle.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Jill Barry | jill.barry@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER

Lucinda Jamison CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Carrie Draghi, Brian Ambrose, Vivien Stembridge, Jag Studios Photography

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise Proverbs 3:5-6 Glastonbury Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Glastonbury area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Glastonbury Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

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inside the issue The Local Love Issue

22

38

26

32

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

22 Some Tips Before Trying on Wedding Dresses

6

Lifestyle Letter

12

City Scene

18

Business Monthly

22

Trend Setter

26

Local Limelight

32

Our Town

38

Education Corner

EDU CAT I ON

38

Education Corner

EDU CAT I ON

44

Culinary Creations

48

Events

There’s a Lot to Keep in Mind Before You Shop For a Wedding Gown

26 Love and Business at Glen Lochen

There are Several Couples-owned Businesses in the New London Turnpike Mall

32 Coming Home

A Local Couple's Odyssey from China to Glastonbury

38 Talcott Mountain Science Center Inspiring Today’s Children to Invent Tomorrow

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Vivien Stembridge The Colp Family - Heather, David and their two sons, Jai and Quin - at their home in Glastonbury. The family was recently reunited after returning from China where they lived for many years. Story on Page 32.

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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3

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4 7

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1-7: Total Mortgage's Holiday Party / Open House in their new offices at 340 Hebron Ave.

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C I T Y SC E N E

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3

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1-7: The Ct River Valley Chamber's Business After Hours, Holiday Edition, at the Berkshire Hathaway offices.

CONTINUED >

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CIT Y SCENE CONTINUED

1

2

3

1: The CT River Valley Chamber celebrated Brown Butter Creation's first anniversary with a ribbon cutting. 2: The CT Valley Chamber at a gathering to thank Apple Harvest Festival volunteers and sponsors. 3: Greenwich Medical Spa was honored to raise and donate $1,400 to the Breast Friends Fund.

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Webb Stevens Wins Accreditation The American Alliance of Museums (A AM) has awarded accreditation to the Webb Deane Stevens Museum, renewing its previous accreditation status. Among an estimated 33,000 museums in the United States, only 1,099, are currently accredited. The Webb Deane Stevens Museum was first awarded accreditation in 1973, making it the first museum owned by a Colonial Dames Society to receive that distinction. For more information visit webb-deane-stevens.org for more information.

Photography Webb Stevens Museum

Glastonbury Gives Raises $8,000 The annual Trees of Giving event was a fabulous success raising $8,000 for the local nonprofit Glastonbury Gives. The event will return this December. Glastonbury Gives is an initiative of the Glastonbury Social Services.

It helps residents in crisis pay for basic needs. For more information visit them on Facebook, @GlastonburyGives.

Photography Courtesy of Glastonbury Gives

Local Entrepreneur Launches New Business Maria Rose has launched a new pasta sauce company. "We are excited to launch our unique style vodka sauce! It contains all unprocessed ingredients with exceptional flavor that busy parents, health-conscious consumers, and sauce connoisseurs can feel good about opening! Other locally made sauces have added cheeses and spices that we don't use, which makes ours more pure and unique!" Visit mariaroseauthenticitalian-6132.myshopify.com.

Photography Maria Rose

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

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Local Wealth Manager Wins Prestigious Award Jenny DeRosa Bergeron, of Athene Wealth Management, LLC has won the 2022 Five Star Wealth Manager Award for the fourth time. Jenny was chosen out of 2950 Connecticut area wealth managers considered and only 10 percent of those won the award. The Five Star Wealth Manager award is administered by Crescendo Business Services. For more information visit Athenewealth.com.

Photography Athene Wealth

Greenwich Medical Spa donates to breast cancer research Greenwich Medical Spa has donated $1,400 to the local Breast Friends Fund, an organization created by Sandy Cassanelli of Glastonbury to raise money to fight metastatic breast cancer. “GMS was honored to raise and donate $1,400 to Breast Friends Fund organization in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness,” med spa officials said. Visit Breastfriendsfund.org for information or Greenwichmedicalspa.com.

Photography Jag Studios Photography

Scan to read more.

Watkinson Students Take Part in Turkey Drive Students at Watkinson School, a private day school for students in Grades 6-12 helped deliver 200 bags of groceries and supplies for needy families this past November. Each year the school, located at 180 Bloomfield Ave, takes part in a Turkey Drive. For 20 years, we have worked with Hartford Methodist Church food bank to fill 200 bags of groceries and supply 110 turkeys for families in need each year. Visit Watkinson.org for information.

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Abbie Paklos is owner of The Wedding Dress in Portland

Some Tips Before Trying on Wedding Dresses There's a lot to keep in mind even before you start looking at gowns ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARRIE DRAGHI, THE WEDDING DRESS

The Wedding Dress in Portland has a large selection of bridal gowns.

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T R E N D SE T T E R | STY L E + BE AUTY

When you get engaged, the ring is important, the venue is as well. But let’s face it, the biggest and most exciting challenge for every bride-to-be is The Dress.

So what are the challenges when picking out the most important piece of wardrobe in your life? To find out, we spoke with Abbie Paklos, owner of The Wedding Dress on Main Street in Portland and a wedding dress expert who’s worked in the bridal fashion industry for nearly 10 years.

“When new brides-to-be call me, the first question I always ask is ‘When are you getting married?’ Because some people don’t realize how long it takes to get a dress. Once you pick one out and it’s ordered, it can take 6 to 7 months just to come in and if you start looking for a dress two months before your wedding, you’ll be buying a gown off the rack.”

Factor into your wedding dress selection process about two months’ worth of time for alterations as well, Abbie adds.

“So picking out a wedding dress is really a ninemonth time frame.”

Here are eight things to keep in mind before trying on wedding gowns and what to do before you get there, Abbie says.

1. Set a realistic budget. There’s nothing more frustrating or disappointing than trying on and falling in love with a $5,000 dress if you can only afford to spend $2,000 on a gown.

2. Keep an open mind. You may have your heart set on an all-satin gown, but try on that frothy lace concoction anyway, just in case. Because sometimes bridesto-be find the perfect gown when they least expect it.

3. Have an idea of what your style is. Abbie says it’s a good idea to peruse wedding-style magazines before you go shopping. Clip some images of gowns you like

and even start a Pinterest board of your favorite styles.

“Just so we have something to go off of, I need a starting point when you come in.”

4. Eat something before you try on gowns. Many women don’t want to feel full or bloated before trying on a wedding dress, but Abbie says you should eat at least a small snack because being hungry when you dress shop can throw off your focus. “I’m not saying you have to have a full seven-course meal but have a granola bar or a piece of fruit first.”

5. Wear proper undergarments, such as a slip, strapless bra and a full coverage spank. You’ll be moving around the store sometimes without the dress on and you’ll want to feel comfortable, Abbie adds.

6. Don’t wear a lot of makeup or a complicated hairstyle. The makeup can rub off on the gowns, which usually go on and off over your head. And that pretty hair up-do will quickly come undone after just a few changes.

7. Bring shoes if you already know what heels you’ll be wearing. There’s a pedestal in the shop so you don’t have to bring shoes, but some brides-to-be like to walk around in the size heel they know they want to wear.

8. Don’t rule out a particular dress style. Most of the designers The Wedding Dress carries can customize their creations. So if you find a strapless gown you fall in love with but wanted a gown with straps, don’t despair. “The designer can easily add straps to a gown or remove them,” Abbie says.

The Wedding Dress 162 Main St., Portland 860-342-5361 Theweddingdressllc.com On Facebook: @theweddingdressllc

“When new brides-to-be call me, the first question I always ask is ‘When are you getting married?’ Because some people don’t realize how long it takes to get a dress.” - Abbie Paklos

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LOVE AND BUSINESS AT GLEN LOCHEN

William and Jurgita Eisenmann inside the Eisenmann Law Offices in Glen Lochen

ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA

THERE ARE SEVERAL COUPLESOWNED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW LONDON TURNPIKE MALL

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

When we cast about for this year’s edition of our Valentine’s Day “Local Love stories, we here at Glastonbury Lifestyle happened on a unique story.

At the Glen Lochen Mall on New London Turnpike there are about two dozen small businesses, and several are owned and operated by couples. We spoke with two of them - William and Jurgita Eisenmann, and Hanna Park and Do Kim, about their unique love stories and businesses.

WILLIAM AND JURGITA EISENMANN, EISENMANN LAW OFFICES Ask Attorney William Eisenmann how he met his wife, Jurgita, and he’ll likely break into a wide grin.

“Well, that’s a long story, how much time do you have?” he joked during a recent interview.

Here’s a quick breakdown of their courtship and marriage. The couple met in 2005 through mutual acquaintances, became friends and later fell in love.

The story of their actual marriage is a bit more tangled.

William, who has practiced law since 1989 and has two grown children, was wrangling with the question of whether to propose to Jurgita, a Lithuanian immigrant who has worked in the home healthcare field for more than 15 years.

He was hesitating, he says, because Jurgita wanted children and he was on the fence about starting another family.

Fate would force his hand.

One November afternoon in 2007 he got an urgent call from Jurgita. Because of an error in her immigration status, she was facing imminent deportation. The couple drove to New York City the next day where William sought to use his legal expertise to help Jurgita out, but immigration officials wouldn’t let him represent her before the government.

He realized the best way to keep her in the country would be to marry her.

Driving back home to Connecticut, he says, “I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to have to do this, I’m going to have to commit to having another child because I can’t let her go.’ “ So that night, he says, “I got down on one knee, proposed, and drew a ring on her finger with a marker.”

They married the next day. William’s dad, Carl Eisenmann, a lifetime lawyer and justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. Jurgita later was able to settle her immigration issues and remain here.

The couple has a 10-year-old daughter, Alexandra. They work together in a suite of offices on the second floor of Glen Lochen.

Jurgita has her own office space next to William’s and runs a home health care agency, It’s My Home Care LLC. For the past year, she has worked as the administrative assistant for William’s law firm, Eisenmann Law Offices, LLC. Working and living together, the couple says, means finding the right balance between their professional and personal lives.

Zumra Cecunjanin is coowner of the Red Fox Prime Steakhouse in Glen Lochen

Jurgita Eisenmann in her office in Glen Lochen

“This is an ironic relationship because when I first met her, I wasn’t thinking of a romance at all - I was so impressed with her brain and work ethic, I wanted to go into business with her!”

DO KIM AND HANNA PARK, RAONJENA COFFEE & DESSERTS Inside the first-floor coffee shop owned

by Do Kim and Hanna Park, bright sunshine streams through Glen Lochen’s tall windows near an entryway. The space is filled with live plants that hang from the ceiling, cover part of one corner and line a section of the space’s long bartop counter.

The cheerful space reflects the sunny dispositions of the shop’s husband and wife owners.

The two are originally from South Korea and immigrated here, separately, when they were teenagers. They met through their church in East Hampton, the Central Korean United Methodist Church of Connecticut.

Hanna was trained in culinary arts and interned for a time at a bakery in Foxwoods Casino. Do’s parents owned a dry cleaning business in East Haddam and East Hampton, and he worked for them. The couple married 12 years ago and Hanna worked for a time in Do’s family dry cleaning business.

Do Kim and Hanna Park inside their Raonjena coffee shop in Glen Lochen

CONTINUED >

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About four years ago they decided to leave their jobs and try to strike out on their own.

They thought a coffee shop would be a good fit because Do has long had a passion for artisanal coffees. Hanna wanted to return to baking and thought it would be a good idea for their new shop to have desserts as well.

That was the genesis of Raonjena Coffee & Dessert. The shop is named after the couple’s twin 7-year-old daughters, Raon and Jena. In Korean, raonjena means “happy together.” They also have a third daughter, Elisa, who is 11 years old.

They opened the coffee shop in June of 2018.

The light and airy space, which features two main rooms - the coffee bar and baked goods case is in the main entry and there is an adjoining large, open space with tables and chairs. You can take your coffee at the breakfast bar in the first room or at a table in the adjoining space.

Both are large, open rooms featuring lots of windows, natural wood floors and white walls.

Do and Hanna say they modeled the shop with minimalism in mind and after botanical gardens that they admire.

Hanna makes all her delectable confections on-site in a small kitchen at the back of the coffee shop. Some recent offerings that were being served up included pistachio croissants, honey cake, tiramisu and taro cinnamon buns.

William and Jurgita Eisenmann inside the Eisenmann Law Offices in Glen Lochen

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

theCoderSchool, owned by Vaishali and Chirayu Shah, trains the next generation of computer coders.

Do Kim and Hanna Park stand next to the pastry counter inside their Raonjena coffee shop

Hanna and Do say they’re proud to offer coffees brewed from beans developed by regional roasters.

The couple says they’ve learned over the past few years that the key to working with your spouse is patience and delegating the duties.

“He focuses on the coffee and all the social media management, I take care of all the baking and I run the kitchen,” Hanna says.

“It was tough for the first couple of years, figuring out how to work together, but we did!” Do says.

OTHER BUSINESSES OWNED AND OPERATED BY COUPLES IN GLEN LOCHEN INCLUDE: theCoderSchool, run by Vaishali and Chirayu Shah, is a year-round computer coding school for kids and is a local franchise of a Silicon Valley company founded in 2014 and intended to provide specialized training in an intimate classroom setting for future coding professionals.

Red Fox Prime Steakhouse is one of Glastonbury’s newest eateries. Located just off the second-floor landing in Glen Lochen, it was opened recently by the husband and wife team of Zumra and Fico Cecunjanin, who also own two other restaurants, the Red Fox Restaurant & Bar in Middletown and the Bone In Prime steakhouse in Cheshire.

Glen Lochen Mall 39 New London Turnpike 860- 878-2639 On Facebook @Glenlochen FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/GL ASTO N BURY

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David and Jai Colp in China

Coming Home A LOCAL COUPLE WHO LIVED FOR MANY YEARS IN CHINA RETURN TO THE HOME THEY LOVE HERE ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA PHOTOGRAPHY BY VIVIEN STEMBRIDGE, HEATHER COLP

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O UR TOWN | L IFE + CU LTURE

For nearly 17 years Heather and David Colp lived and worked in Southeast Asia.

David, an architect and construction manager, and Heather, an interior designer, worked for American interests abroad, largely in Japan, Taiwan and China.

It started in 2004 when the company Corning called and offered the Colps a short-term contract to help with a new factory it was building overseas.

“Within a month we had packed up our lives and moved to Taiwan. That lasted 17 years,” Heather says. “We worked between Taiwan, Japan and China in different cities.”

They were so comfortable living and working overseas that they raised their two sons there after Heather returned home to the U.S. each time to give birth. The family learned Mandarin, and the two boys, Jai, who is 9 and Quin, who is 7, went to school in Taiwan and China.

In January of 2020, the family was living in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, a commercial hub near the coast, when they started hearing about an outbreak of a respiratory illness in Wuhan, located about 420 miles north of Guangzhou.

“Toward the end of the month, we started hearing rumblings that this could be pretty serious.

And then, suddenly, the city of Wuhan shut down. We were worried about getting trapped in Guangzhou and we decided to fly out. We each grabbed a bag and some important documents because we figured we’d be back in a couple of weeks.”

Their ride to the airport, Heather adds, was surreal.

“I’ve described it to people as being in something like the Twilight Zone.”

The family was used to seeing people in masks because they were commonly used in China well before the Covid breakout but seeing people in hazmat suits along their ride to the airport was jarring, she says.

CONTINUED >

Jai and Quin Colp at an airport in China FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/GL ASTO N BURY

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“Within a month we'd packed up our lives and moved to Taiwan.

That lasted 17 years. We worked between Taiwan, Japan and China in different cities. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that none of us will forget. We'll forever cherish the opportunity to immerse ourselves into different cultures.” - Heather Colp

“We were stopped at a toll booth that led to the airport highway where officials and workers would take our temperatures. At that point, we had no idea how bad it was going to be and in the back of my mind I thought maybe we wouldn’t make it out.”

“I was really scared that we would wake up in the morning to take our flights but the entire city would be shut down,” Heather adds.

“We got home safely, but then we got trapped here in the U.S. for months. When I got home I told my family and friends ‘It’s coming here, it’s only a matter of time, so get ready. And then in March, it started hitting here in the U.S.” After spending a few months here David needed to return to work and after a great deal of paperwork, got permission to return to China. Heather and the couple’s two boys remained in Glastonbury.

“That was a tough day because when David left and we had to say goodbye we didn’t know when we’d see him again.”

Like other parents, Heather home-schooled the boys through Zoom meetings with their teacher back in Guangzhou, though the 12-hour time difference was a constant challenge.

David was able to return at the end of September of 2020 but his job was still in China so he and Heather decided they should all return to China so the boys could continue their online schooling there and the family could stay together.

“My husband still had a job to do, he was in charge of a project and we didn’t want to be separated any longer.”

34

O UR TOWN | L IFE + CU LTURE

She said they weren’t worried about the Covid outbreak in China because the country had been in lockdown for a month.

“It (Covid) actually wasn’t that bad because there was so much control over there.

They shut down the entire country and within a few months, they had it contained within the city of Wuhan so I wasn’t concerned for our health or our safety. If anything, we joked it was the safest place on earth because they had it covered so well.” “Fortunately, when we arrived in Wuhan, they had in-person classes. They were 2-3 times throughout the year and a half we were in Wuhan and then we switched to online school if the positive cases went up.”

The family remained in China until last June when they decided to come home for good.

“We wanted the boys to get rooted here and I wanted to go back to work. I had stopped working when I had my first son at 37 and I missed my job. I said ‘It’s time to go back and plant some roots.’ ” She started her own interior design business, Colp Design and Consulting LLC, which offers commercial interior design and consulting services. David returned with the family in June but had to leave temporarily in late August to China to complete a job there and returned permanently to Glastonbury in mid-December.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that none of us will forget. We will forever cherish the opportunity to immerse ourselves into different cultures.”

The Colp family at home in Glastonbury

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Talcott Mountain Science Center INSPIRING TODAY’S CHILDREN TO INVENT TOMORROW

ARTICLE BY LUCINDA JAMISON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TALCOTT MOUNTAIN SCIENCE CENTER

Perched on a secluded ridge, the Talcott Mountain Science Center gives young people the opportunity for hands-on learning in modern science.

The Talcott Mountain Academy, located within the campus of the science center, is Connecticut’s premier independent school for K-8 gifted and talented students. With small student-to-teacher ratios, the school incorporates a full spectrum of liberal and fine arts classes into its traditional STEM-based program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) for a well-rounded curriculum.

The Center’s Executive Director, Jeff Martin, told us, ”We were STEM before STEM was a thing. From the beginning, we moved away from treating science as an academic exercise,

Talcott Mountain Science Academy students engage in the arts as well as the STEM program.

38

EDU CAT ION COR N E R | EDUCATI ON

Talcott Mountain Science Academy students inside a classroom.

and our approach has always been that engagement comes first. Now that the equation has become STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math.) We want to be equally intentional about weaving arts and science together.”

For more than 50 years, Talcott Mountain Science Center has focused on its hands-on approach for an innovative and integrated educational experience.

The Science Center offers a wide variety of programs and services for the community. The 20-acre, mostly wooded campus lends itself to three-season exploration of the local geology and ecology for students, clubs or scouting field trips. Each year the campus does a one-day Bio-Blitz in which participants go out on the property and identify as many species of flora and fauna as they can to see what changes are happening in the campus habitat year after year.

Perfect for stargazing, the Center’s high ridgetop setting offers no obstructions to the night sky’s view, a full range of high-powered professional telescopes and the largest teaching planetarium in the state. Expert astronomers guide viewers through an exploration of the universe. Martin explained, “We want families to engage with us in significant ways, and what better way than a Friday night of stargazing?”

Other TMSC programs include Outreach and In-School Programs, where the center brings dynamic science activities to area classrooms. Spectacular Saturdays provide discovery, exploration and research in fields including robotics, green energy, weather, 3D printing, ecology, geology, coding, astronomy and more.

Vacation programs in April and December enrich the student while school is out with fun programs and small groups.

CONTINUED >

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/GL ASTO N BURY

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“We offer unique looks at science through subjects like Kitchen Chemistry and the Science of Magic, plus more focused programs, like Robotics and C a m p I n v e n t i o n .” — E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r J e f f M a r t i n .

“Our Summer Program serves close to 700 students over the course of the summer,” Martin told us. “We offer unique looks at science through subjects like Kitchen Chemistry and the Science of Magic, plus more focused programs, like Robotics and Camp Invention.”

The center and academy are closely connected to the overall community and have an open-door culture, as well as a myriad of ways to communicate when it comes to being available to parents, students and community members.

Talcott Mountain Science Academy students take part in stargazing.

40

EDU CAT ION COR N E R | EDUCATI ON

“We continue to be a resource for families throughout the region. There is no single way to engage with us; there are multiple ways. That is what makes us really unique and really special. We want folks to interact with us in whatever way is meaningful for them.”

Talcott Mountain Science Center & Academy 324 Montevideo Road, Avon 860-855-3157 860-677-0035 Online: TalcottAcademy.org On Facebook: @TalcottScience

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Coconut Cake ARTICLE BY EILEEN M MCNAMARA

Coconut Cake active time: 15 min total time: 50 Min. cake ingredients: • 1 box of white cake mix • 3 eggs • 1/2 cup canned coconut milk, unsweetened • 1/2 cup buttermilk • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

frosting ingredients: • 1 stick of butter, room temperature • 1 cup of cream cheese, room temperature • 4 cups confectioners sugar • 1 bag of sweetened coconut flakes • 1/4 cup cream of coconut • 4 tablespoons milk, cream or half and half, warmed • 1 pint raspberries (Optional, for garnish)

This rich, sweet confection is a pretty dessert to serve for Valentine's Day My husband and I visited a restaurant in Florida a few years back and given that it’s the land of the palms, this particular restaurant had coconut cake on its menu. Neither of us are huge coconut fans but it sounded intriguing so we gave it a shot. It was astoundingly good. I loved it so much that I tried, unsuccessfully at first, to replicate the recipe at home. I went through the laborious effort of making it from scratch using a recipe I found online, but it never tasted the same as the cake I got at that restaurant. Then I developed a hybrid recipe using a box cake and homemade frosting. That one hit the mark! I made this again at Christmas for a family gathering and added some raspberries as a garnish to make it more festive. It was a big hit!

44

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

cake preparation: Heat oven to 350. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and grease. Sprinkle greased pans lightly with flour. Blend together the cake mix with the rest of the ingredients and pour into the pans. Bake 25 minutes at 350 or until toothpick insert into center of cakes comes out clean. Let cool.

frosting preparation: Blend the cream cheese, butter and half of the cream of coconut until smooth. Alternate the sugar and milk in small batches until the icing reaches desired consistency (you want it to be thick enough to spread, but not too thin). Warming the milk first, either on the stove top or in a microwave, will help make the frosting more spreadable. You can add more or less cream of coconut to taste. Frost the cake layers and then press coconut flakes over the top and sides. Garnish with raspberries.

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/GL ASTO N BURY

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

F EB RUA RY 1 ST

Lions Walking Club

RI VER FRON T COMMUN ITY CE NT E R , 30 0 WE L L E S ST. | 6 :0 0 P M Join the Lion's Walking Club. We walk every Wednesday evening at the Community Center, from 6-7 p.m. Walking 30-60 minutes is a great way to help prevent diabetes by regulating your body's blood sugar. Visit us on Facebook,@Glastonburylions, for more information.

F E B R UA RY 3 RD

Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival

T HE COURTYARD BY MARRIOT T, 4 S E B E T H E DR I V E , C R O MWE L L | 4 :0 0 P M The Little Theater of Manchester presents the annual Stupid Cupid Steampunk weekend-long extravaganza from Feb. 3-5. There will be music, fashion shows, vendors, food, dancing and so much more in this three-day festival that celebrates everything steampunk! Tickets start at $15. Visit Jessicalucci.org/events/ stupid-cupid-8th-annual-steampunk-festival for more information.

F EB RUA RY 4 T H

Saturday Matinees at Riverfront Park

RI VER FRON T COMMUN ITY CE NT E R , 30 0 WE L L E S ST. | 1 1 :0 0 A M The matinee runs all month for seniors 55 and older. We'll be showing the film "Lost in Paris," about a Canadian librarian who visits Paris and discovers that her aunt is missing. As she scours the city looking for her aunt she meets an odd Parisian along the way. Visit Glastonburyct.gov for more information on this free event.

F EB RUA RY 4 T H

Low Strung Concert

FIRST CHUR CH OF G LASTON B URY, 21 8 3 MA I N ST. | 7 :0 0 P M First Church of Glastonbury will host the return of the Yale cello group, Low Strung for an evening concert.

Tickets are $25 and $10 for students and seniors. We are also asking for a donation for the local food bank.

Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com. Tickets are non-refundable. For questions or information email pattisivocole@gmail.com or call 860-633-5057.

F EB RUA RY 4 T H

Learning Self-Love & Compassion through Bikram Yoga

O M G LASTON BURY - THE W EL L NE S S C E NT E R , 25 6 OA K WO O D DR . | 8 :0 0 A M This event runs from 8-11:30 a.m. The $50 tuition includes a 90-minute seminar entitled, the Act of Self Love with Erica Wilcox, LPC. A 90-Minute Bikram Yoga Class with Kat Walinski will follow. For more information or to sign up for the seminar visit OmGlastonbury.com.

F E B R UA RY 5T H

The King of Pain Road Race

H OPEWELL S CHOOL, 1068 CHE ST NUT H I L L R OA D | 9 :0 0 A M Billed as "The toughest road race in Glastonbury history," The King of Pain is a 10-mile road race presented by The Glastonbury River Runners Club. The race is chip-timed and there will be post-race food, awards and a solid sense of pride for crushing a bunch of Glastonbury's toughest hills. The entry fee is $50. Visit Runsignup.com/Race/CT/Glastonbury/KingOfPain for more information.

CONTINUED >

48

EVE N TS

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EVENTS CONTINUED

F EB RUA RY 5T H

St. Clements Castle & Marina Annual Bridal Showcase

ST. CLEMEN TS CASTLE & MAR I NA , 1 9 31 P O RT L A ND-C O B A LT R OA D, P O RT L A ND | 1 1 :0 0 A M The Annual Saint Clements Castle & Marina Wedding Showcase runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature hand-passed hors d’oeuvres, pasta and macaroni and cheese station and our preferred vendors. Tickets are $10 per person and all guests must be pre-register. Visit saintclementscastle.com for more information.

F EB RUA RY 6T H

Around the World in 80 Gardens

WELLES TURN ER MEMORIAL L I B R A RY, 24 0 7 MA I N ST. | 6 :30 P M Join Dr. Richard W. Benfield, Emeritus Professor of Geography at Central Connecticut State University, as he discusses the world’s great gardens, beginning in the lush gardens of the pacific, through South America and Europe to South East Asia and Australia. Dr. Benfield will discuss the different and unique gardens and floral kingdoms of the world. Visit Wtmlib.info for more information.

F EB RUA RY 1 1 T H

Comedy Night at Hops on the Hill

H OPS ON THE HILL FARM BR E WE RY, 27 5 DUG R OA D | 7 :0 0 P M Join us from 7-9 p.m. for The Comedy Craft Beer Tour, which brings the best of Northeast comedy to local breweries, wineries, and other venues throughout New England. Tickets are $25. The show will take place indoors. Capacity is limited and seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Visit Hopsonthehillbrewery.com for information and tickets.

F E B R UA RY 1 4 T H

Valentines Day Luncheon

RI VER FRON T COMMUN ITY CE NT E R , 30 0 WE L L E S ST. | 1 2:0 0 P M Join us on Valentine's Day to have a delicious meal and enjoy exciting entertainment and comedy by Gene's Magic! Gene is always the life of the party. A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Gene has received accolades from both party-goers and professional groups. Visit Glastonburyct.myrec.com for information and to register.

F EB R UA RY 2 3 RD

Connecticut Flower Show

CON N ECTICUT CON VEN TION C E NT E R , 1 0 0 C O LUMB US B LV D, H A RT F O R D | 1 0 :0 0 A M The prestigious 41st annual flower show presented by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut will be the group's only 2023 show and runs from Feb. 23-26. Covering almost 3 acres, the show will offer ideas for house, apartment, and condo dwellers. “Gateway to Spring” is the theme of this year’s show. Visit Ctflowershow.com for information and tickets.

F E B R UA RY 2 7 T H

Crafting With Clay

WELLES TURN ER MEMORIAL L I B A RY, 24 0 7 MA I N ST. | 6 :0 0 P M Join Laurie, of Creative Girl Mobile Studios, and learn to make a bottle opener or bottle stopper with clay!

All metal components will be provided and you'll learn how to create a one-of-a-kind handle from multiple colors of clay. This workshop is open to all (age 21+) and attendees will leave with a finished project.

Visit Wtmlib.info for additional information.

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Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Glastonbury

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EVE N TS

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