Fairfield Living - November/December 2020

holiday shopping guide GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST pg. 20 STATUS REPORT Cold-weather training with F45 • Marc Lasry, co-owner of Milwaukee Bucks • Boost your immunity

NOV/DEC 2020 | $5.95

4 bartenders on how they are wowing customers and doing business now

Cheers!

A GOOD CATCH Sustainable seafood

PLUS

The soothing new color for your home

TREAT YOURSELF Flipside Burgers & Bar’s Pumpkin Pie Martini

GIVING THANKS Locals Who Support Us During the Pandemic

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contents NOV/DEC 2020 vol. 10 | issue 6

features

48

39

departments 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 13 STATUS REPORT

RAISE YOUR SPIRITS

BUZZ Prepping for cold-weather training

Not to worry, your local friendly bartender is here to raise your spirits.

We pulled up a stool to ask area barkeeps about their work, from trendy cocktails to how they responded to the many changes Covid caused. Hear from Flipside Burgers & Bar, Boca Oyster Bar, Brickwalk Tavern and The Chelsea.

One-on-one with Marc Lasry Boost your immunity Good risks for teenagers

48

HOME A solid style choice: concrete GO Electric-powered vehicles Citizenship

LIGHT A FIRE Meet locals who help others in our community. Now, more than ever, we need a reminder about the very best in people—that we are here for one another and we care. These locals made a difference during the turbulent onset of Covid-19.

DO Emily Liebert’s fall book picks How to prep for a disaster like a total pro EAT Sustainable seafood 37 FINANCE FIX

What the rich know 63 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

b y ji l l joh ns on m an n

64 POSTSCRIPT top: Light a Fire Honoree Dave Kuban below: Sushi at Fjord

on the cover: flipside burgers and bar’s pumpkin pie martini FAIRFIELD LIVING NOV/DEC 2020, VOL. 10, NO. 6. FAIRFIELD LIVING (ISSN 2163-7555) is published bi-monthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St., Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to FAIRFIELD LIVING PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. U.S. Subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $34.95/2 years; Canada and Foreign $44/1 year, $72/2 years. fairfieldlivingmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY: COVER COURTESY INSTAGRAM @FLIPSIDEBURGERSANDBAR; TOC, TOP: BY MELANI LUST • TOC, BOTTOM COURTESY INSTAGRAM @FJORDFISHMARKET; BOW ©JUKOV STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBECOM

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vol. 10 | no. 6 | nov/dec 2020 creative director

Amy Vischio–amy.vischio@moffly.com editorial

executive editor

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com editor, fairfield living; westport; stamford Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

International Estate and Tax Planning

Philanthropic Giving

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Corporate and Finance

Wealth Protection Planning

Litigation and Arbitration

Fiduciary and Trustee Services

Commercial and Residential Real Estate

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Megan Gagnon–megan.gagnon@moffly.com books correspondent

Emily Liebert contributing editors

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Terry Christofferson, Kathryn Satterfield, Scott Thomas contributing writers

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As the largest local source of non-government funding for health and human services, the Greenwich United Way sustains programs that support seniors, strengthen children and families, foster self-sufficiency, and assist individuals in crisis.

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editor’s letter

NOV/DEC 2020 / DIANE SEMBROT

W

Grateful for Fairfield We posted a shot of the lighthouse on Facebook and asked what about our town fills your heart with gratitude. Here are a few responses that were shared:

“That’s so beautiful. I remember all the light houses. My dad would take me fishing and go close to the light houses. So I’m grateful for my wonderful memories.”

“Sasco at sunset!”

“My husband lives here!”

“So grateful to have the Long Island Sound in our backyards.”

“We have a big beautiful town with everything to offer!”

“While I was on Penfield Beach we used to Jetski all the way to the lighthouse beautiful lighthouse I love it.”

“The beach and the town for taking care of it and us!”

ell, we did it. We are in the countdown to the end of 2020.

It’s been quite a year, what with the pandemic—something I didn’t expect in my lifetime. Sounds like something my hearty grandparents or great-grandparents would have faced—but me? Who am I to face this? I guess no one is really prepared. We all grabbed a mask and started singing “Happy Birthday” (twice!) as we washed our hands a few times a day. Now, it’s even awkward when it comes to holding a door open for someone else—not because of changing roles for men and women, but because of Covid. At least we all have plenty of toilet paper now, if not Lysol (what’s up with that—why can’t I find Lysol still?).

We’ve adjusted. I still miss things. The obvious ones, like seeing people at fundraisers or leaving the house without a thought of masks and sanitizer. But I’m trying to remember to be grateful—and I am. After all, this beautiful country has lost so many thousands of people, and I will never be the same after the news reports coming out of New York in the early days. I think our country and our town are due for mourning, together.

We’ve been through—still going through— something frightening, confusing and sad.

It’s togetherness that makes it bearable. Of course, this virus thrives on our closeness, and it drops and decays with our isolation. But we are human—born to be social—and we will always find a way to reach out to one another.

Some of us do this instinctively and professionally. I’m thinking of the healthcare workers who, on the frontlines of the pandemic, took care of the most vulnerable

fairfieldlivingmag.com

10

among us. Nurses and doctors, for example, not only bravely had physical contact with Covid-19 patients day after day, but also held someone’s hand at the last breath. I can’t imagine the strength that takes.

I come from a family of healthcare workers.

I know the work means sore backs and aching feet from the hours they put in. Rarely, though, do I hear about the emotional toll, because that is who caretakers are—they’re givers.

For them, it’s just what they do—as natural as breathing in, breathing out. As they give comfort, they don’t even realize that they’re heroes.

In this issue, with our Light a Fire feature, we introduce you to locals who made a difference in this health crisis. This year, we purposely focus on honoring people who help in their own way to get us through, with whatever skill and resource they have.

Some are healthcare workers, some support the small businesses rocked by the financial repercussions, some protect children. We are better off because they saw a problem and decided to help. Giving is their natural response when others are in need.

We must go though this pandemic, but at least we know that there are brave, hardworking, creative, kind people to provide comfort and confidence through their example. So when you hear someone say, “We’re in this together,” this is what they mean—we are not alone, we are a community.

PHOTO BY BRUCE PLOTKIN; LIGHTHOUSE BY AMBER SCINTO

THE GIVERS

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UPCOMING LIVESTREAM VIRTUAL EVENTS

WEDNESday Nov. 18, 2020 8 p.m.

The 23rd Annual Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lecture in affiliation with the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies

From the Flint Water Crisis to Championing Global Policies for Children’s Health Dr. Hanna-Attisha was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for her role in uncovering the Flint Water Crisis and leading recovery efforts.

Mona Hanna-Attisha, M.D. A Membership that Matters

The Quick celebrates our 30th Anniversary with over 50 programs representing 40 artists and speakers generated through 10 collaborations across our campus and community. Membership secures free access to all events.

THURSday FRIday Nov. 12, 2020 Nov. 13, 2020 5 p.m. 7 p.m.

gina kolata

ANN hampton callaway

COVID-19 Vaccination: How and When will the U.S. get it?

A discussion of the state of the CoronaVirus Vaccination

DIVA POWER

presented in affiliation with the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

A science and medicine reporter with The New York Times and author of Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It.

A soaring celebration of the legendary ladies who helped shape the soundtrack of our lives: Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day, Edith Piaf, Etta James, Carole King and Joni Mitchell.

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50 YEARS OF WOMEN

AT FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

buzz STATUS REPORT

GET BUSY TRAINING through the winter

above: Rachel Darden, owner/ operator/head coach F45 Fairfield

PORTRAIT, CONTRIBUTED; WEIGHTS ©AZURE - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

M

aybe you were a gold-medal winning athlete in your twenties, but now you’re too busy to put in the hours. Perhaps you were injured and need to build back strength. Of course, you might be at the top of your game—lucky you. Does one gym fit all? “Because we use interval timing, and not a set number of reps, individuals can work at their own pace. Plyometric exercises can all be scaled accordingly and there are a million ways to ensure we give each athlete a workout specific to their needs,” says Rachel Darden, owner/operator and head coach at F45 Training in Fairfield (f45training.com/ fairfieldusa). “We have college kids and people well into their sixties who train with us, and they are all challenged appropriately.”

by diane sembrot

Now on the precipice of winter, Fairfielders who have been working out outdoors, may start eyeing gyms—not only for protection against the weather, but also for the help of a coach. “It’s not always about coming in and piling on big weights,” says Rachel. “We can use different training techniques to create a new overload. It’s important to educate our athletes on how to be well-rounded.”

F45 stands for functional training (a mix of circuit and HIIT) and 45 (get in, get it done, get on with life). Three days of the week are dedicated to cardio, three to resistance, and one (Saturday) to both. Pulling from some 4,000 workouts, trainers guide groups through stations, without treadmills or weight machines. The moves are also demonstrated on screens.

BETTER TOGETHER “From the time I did my first F45 workout, I was hooked,” says Rachel. “I loved the teamtraining environment, the energy of the coaches and the amazing programming of the workout itself.” She got enough inspiration of that workout to leap into a new career as a studio owner in Fairfield. “I love Fairfield!

I love the people. I love the area, and I am proud to count myself among the amazing community of small businesses here.”

Fostering a community feel at her gym, Rachel says, “I wanted a place where everyone felt welcomed as a person, not a number.

When you miss a workout, I notice. If you miss two, I’m on the phone. That mentality of accountability and recognition has taken on a shape of its own. Our members hold each other accountable. They lift each other up.”

FIND A WAY When the pandemic hit, F45 had to pivot.

“We now offer virtual training and an outdoor option,” she says. “Things look very different in the studio. Where we used to have thirty-six people in a class, we are now limited to nine.

Members are spaced twelve-feet apart and no longer share equipment. Additionally, we have increased our already rigorous cleaning standards to include twice weekly electrostatic spraying; all equipment is thoroughly disinfected following each workout and we invested in a UV light for our HVAC system.”

Such precautions should be reassuring, because, after all, workouts are for health.

“Now more than ever, people should invest in their health,” says Rachel. “We are in the midst of a pandemic where some of the most vulnerable segments of the population are the obese—which lends itself to other dangerous comorbidities—and this is something we can easily combat with a regular fitness routine.

Gyms are safe and should be thought of as essential, not only for physical health, but also for mental health—which is also critical in these times. In the words of Tony Robbins: ‘Motion creates emotion.’ ”

The Challenge // 8 weeks to reach your fitness goal F45 runs an 8-Week Challenge to help their clients reach a goal weight, tone up or increase over all fitness—in short, adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Participants access the Challenge Portal, which provides weekly meal plans, a library of thousands of recipes, and other guidance on healthy habits. The current challenge runs until December 2 and is followed by a two-week Maintenance Phase. Then, the next 8-Week Challenge begins.

“We’ve got all of the holidays covered,” says Rachel Darden.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 FAIRFIELD LIVING

13

buzz

HOME ADVANTAGE by dave briggs

W

estport is home to a veritable who’s who of successful professionals from national media stars, to bestselling authors, titans of industry, actors, singers and artists. You know them, you read about them, see them on television and might see them out from time to time dining at The Whelk, walking down Compo or even rocking out at the Levitt (in a better time). What you may not know is you’ve likely seen one of the most influential people in sports and business today and never had a clue. The co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and billionaire founder of Avenue Capital Group, Marc Lasry has called Westport his weekend home for more than twenty years. The Beachside house known as “Casa Blanca” has been Lasry’s permanent home since COVID-19 began to wreak havoc in March. He and his wife, Cathy, have had plenty of company over the past several months, their five kids and seven grandchildren have all stayed here for much of that time.

The sixty-year-old Lasry came to the United States with his family from Morocco when he was seven. He spent his childhood in West Hartford, graduating from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and going on to earn his law degree from New York Law School. What lured Lasry here to Westport, however, was not the schools, beaches, arts nor access to the Metro North. “Originally, it was just the halfway point” between his parents in Hartford and the office in New York City, he said. What has kept Marc and Cathy here for all these years is well, “everything! Everything is nice about it. All we’ve ever had here has

above: Marc Lasry

been a positive experience.” You might spot Marc at his favorite local eateries, which include Paci, Terrain Cafe, Garelick & Herbs, shopping “every other day” at Balducci’s or perhaps playing a little tennis at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton.

Lasry’s business is in New York, where Avenue Capital, a company he started with his sister in 1995, manages an eye-popping $10 billion. Like most of us, Marc has adapted to Zoom calls in his sprawling backyard where we recently sat down to chat about everything from Connecticut to basketball, the economy and politics. Enjoying the casual comforts of working from home, Lasry, wearing shorts, tennis shoes and a Bucks t-shirt, acknowledged the many months here quarantining has opened his eyes to the ease and comfort of life on the Gold Coast. “I’ve never been a New

fairfieldlivingmag.com

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Yorker in my core. I love being in New York, but I’d rather be out here. It’s easier, less hectic, nicer.” Nice does not do justice to describe the stunning home the couple built here. The picturesque property is also well prepared for a visit from his NBA players, with a full-length outdoor basketball court and a tennis court not far from their private beach.

In fact, one of the NBA’s biggest stars, two-time defending NBA Most Valuable Player and this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent time at Lasry’s Westport home. The 6-foot-11 native of Greece could, however, be on the move. Antetokounmpo is set to become a free agent after next season and his status following the Bucks 3-1 series ending loss to the Miami Heat has Lasry trying to answer one of the biggest questions in sports: Will Giannis stay in Milwaukee? “I don’t think he’s leaving Milwaukee, we’ve done everything we can to make Giannis feel comfortable that we’re doing the right thing.” The Bucks can also pay Giannis $80 million more than any other team for a total of $220 million according to estimates. Lasry does not think the enormous pay day will be the motivating factor. “I don’t think Giannis is driven by money. He’s driven by if he has a comfort level with people, and he has that with ownership, this team and the coach. I think the odds are very high he stays here.” Lasry also takes exception to the notion pushed forward by former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson that Giannis is essentially former Bulls great Scottie Pippen and needs his [Michael] Jordan; a leading man. Said the Bucks co-owner:

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE BRIGGS

ONE-ON-ONE WITH CO-OWNER OF THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS MARC LASRY

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CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING

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We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current Fairfield family connection and must be submitted within three months of the wedding day. Regretfully, we are unable to run every wedding submitted.

Send Information to: weddings@fairfieldlivingmag.com Fairfield Living Magazine 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880

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15

buzz

“Giannis is one of the most dominant players in the NBA, Jefferson can say what he wants, but I disagree.” Lasry does acknowledge that the twenty-five-year-old MVP does need to expand his shooting range.

A pioneer in the distressed debt market, buying the Bucks has proven one of Marc’s best investments. He and fellow billionaire Wes Edens paid $550 million for the team in 2014 and Forbes estimates its worth $1.58 billion today.

However, the Bucks biggest accomplishment this season came in not playing basketball.

The team’s decision to boycott Game 5 of their 1st Round Playoff series following the police shooting of Jacob Blake led to a league-wide boycott and eventually spread to the WNBA, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. Lasry had no advance notice of his team’s plan but stood firmly behind them. “I knew the players were very focused on what happened in Kenosha. I was like, OK, I believe we were going to win the series anyway; they were willing to forfeit the game.” Social justice and police brutality had already been a central focus of the NBA playoffs in their Disney World bubble, but the boycott only shined the spotlight brighter.

Although the movement is a noble cause, it may prove to be bad business for Lasry’s league. Ratings are down 20 percent compared with the same period last season, and although the summer schedule and lack of fans present could present a problem, sports fans are quick to point out the league has become too political. Black Lives Matter is painted on the court and social justice messages have replaced

I’ve never been a New Yorker in my core. I love being in New York, but I’d rather be out here.

It’s easier, less hectic, nicer.

Marc Lasry

names on a majority of players jerseys. Lasry is willing to take the good with the bad. “At the end of the day, you should always do the right thing. I don’t focus on if it’s bad business. I focus on, let’s do what’s right. Ultimately, we’ll be rewarded for doing what’s right,” he said.

Lasry is guided by a similar sentiment when discussing the divisive Presidential election.

A major Democratic donor and close friend of both Bill and Hillary Clinton (both of whom have visited Lasry’s Westport home), the billionaire investor originally backed now Vice Presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris in the primary. He’s now on board the Biden bus primarily because of that sense of what he feels is right and wrong. The owner of Casa Blanca says the race for the White House comes down to a simple question: “Do you want someone who is nice and decent, who

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is going to do the right thing, or do you want somebody who isn’t? That’s the pitch.”

Lasry believes a recovery of the battered U.S. economy could take several years. He believes people will return to restaurants as well as movies and that airlines will return to 90 percent of pre-COVID levels by next summer.

He acknowledges the market is a poor indicator of the economy as a whole. “If somebody said to you a year ago, you’ll have a record stock market and half of Main Street, Westport, is boarded up, you’d say that’s impossible.”

That puts our town in the same position as many of the distressed debt assets that made Lasry both tremendously respected and fabulously wealthy. While COVID certainly devastated Westport in the short term, it could ultimately benefit, in that real estate values have sky-rocketed and the virus could permanently change commuting patterns.

“What has fundamentally changed, six months ago if you said you’ll work remotely, I’d assume you weren’t working hard,” said Lasry. “Today that perception has changed. So people will return to New York, but probably not five days a week.”

From the macro to the micro aspects of the economy if your job is one of the 11 million that has not recovered, the Avenue CEO has this timely tip: “The biggest asset you have is relationships. You have to use those to find something. Don’t worry about asking for favors. The worst thing somebody can say is no—it never hurts to ask.” And if you see your neighborhood billionaire around this fabulous town, it can’t hurt to say hello and “Go Bucks!”

More than

148,000 children and families served since 1978

Need help? Not sure? Call our 24-hour free, confidential helpline for guidance

203-661-1911

kidsincrisis.org

THE BIG REBOOT BUILDING A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN BE KEY TO GETTING

THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS

by liz barron

P

andemic or not, it’s pretty safe to say that keeping our immune systems strong is an important element to staying healthy.

And, with the cold and flu season ramping up, now is clearly the time for a reboot. We spoke with local medical experts JOSH HERBERT, M.D., medical director, primary care, at Stamford Health Medical Group, and KAREN BECKMAN, M.D., pediatrician at Riverside Pediatrics LC in New Canaan for their advice on what could help.

Are there supplements we all should be taking right now?

Dr. Herbert:

number of colds but more high-quality studies are needed.

There is no conclusive evidence that any herbal remedies impact the incidence of the common cold and many have unsafe side effects for children. The current recommendation is that they should be avoided in children. vitamin E has also commonly been used because it has been shown to decrease the number of colds; however, it is associated with an increase in all-cause mortality and therefore should be avoided.

No supplements have been proven to prevent Covid-19.

Many claim to improve immunity but these claims often lack scientific evidence. Some supplements or combinations have the potential to be harmful [interactions with one another, high doses, mixing with prescription medication, etc].

It is always best to check with your physician regarding supplements. For general health, commonly used supplements that are safe at the appropriate doses are multivitamins, melatonin, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D.

Will we see less sickness in general because of mask wearing and socialdistancing orders?

Dr. Herbert: Masks work.

Covid-19 has been demonstrated to spread via respiratory droplets (although airborne transmission continues to be studied). Therefore, maintaining physical distance (6 feet) and wearing a mask decreases transmission.

Masks are critically necessary in decreasing transmission from asymptomatic Covid positive people. Areas that adapted mask wearing, distancing and hand washing have proven to show decreased spread of infection. The R0 (“R naught”) of an infectious disease refers to how contagious it is or, more specifically, how many people are likely to become infected from one contagious person. Based on that mathematical

Dr. Beckman: Children living in the Northeast should be taking vitamin D3 supplements during the school year. I recommend 400 to 600 IUs for infants and children up to puberty and 1000 IUs starting at around age 11. A multivitamin (with vitamin D) is useful for children with limited diets.

Some studies show that vitamin C dosing of at least 200 mg/ day helps prevent upper respiratory infections. Studies show that zinc helps shorten the course of the common cold when given at a dose of 50 mcg/kg/day up to a maximum dose of 2000 mcg/day but should never be given intranasally. There is also some evidence that probiotics may help decrease the

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formula, Covid-19 is more contagious than influenza. So if we are taking measures to prevent Covid, we automatically decrease the spread of flu. Just do not wear a mask with an exhalation valve or vent. These types of masks potentially allow the contagious virus to be exhaled out the vent.

Should I worry about my child’s immune system more now than ever?

Dr. Beckman: For most children, there is no need to evaluate their immune system.

Taking preventative measures, wearing masks and ensuring proper hand washing should be enough.

For children who are suffering from more than “their share” of infections, especially repeated bacterial infections, or infections severe enough to result in hospitalization— further testing should be pursued to look for underlying immunodeficiency disorders.

How can we maintain a healthy immune system?

Dr. Herbert: Everyone’s immune system is different and is affected by multiple factors— some that are modifiable and others that are not.

Health conditions, prescription medications and advanced age can put certain individuals at higher risk of infection; focusing on factors that can be controlled is key.

HABITS FOR GOOD HEALTH 1 GET ENOUGH QUALITY SLEEP 2 EAT A BALANCED DIET Limit sugar and processed foods, and increase amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein.

3 STAY HYDRATED Gargling with water three times a day has been shown to reduce the incidence of the common cold.

4 EXERCISE Target 150 minutes per week of cardio for adults.

5 MAINTAIN PROPER WORK/ LIFE BALANCE especially when working from home 6 LIMIT ALCOHOL 7 REDUCE STRESS 8 TAKE BREAKS FROM SCREENS

©JCHIZHE - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

buzz

buzz

Risky Business

The hidden opportunity when TEENS MAKE MISTAKES by diane sembrot

above: Caroline Pereira

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH NEWTON

M

oving from junior high to high school to college to first job mark major life transitions. Each new chapter introduces additional expectations and advanced responsibilities.

Caroline Pereira of THE BERTRAM GROUP (thebertramgroup.com and carolinepereira.com) based in Westport, helps young adults transition more smoothly into adulthood by accessing their ability to make more effective decisions that make them feel more fulfilled.

Certified as a RobbinsMadanes Strategic Interventionist and Life Coach and cofounder Riverstone International School, she is launching in November “Paramount: Life Skills and Strategies,” an eight-week, online academy with a year of weekly group coaching designed for young adults to discover what they want and how to achieve success.

(She helps parents in the Facebook group Parents for Thriving Young Adults.) “You can see a huge shift in these kids when they align their decisions with who they really are and what they value,” she says.

PERSPECTIVE Caroline helps students look at the big picture. They explore

lasting effects, but challenges are hidden opportunities for growth.

She helps young people see that “they can jump over hurdles to keep going with excitement rather than fear. That is how they build character and strength.”

To illustrate her point she turns to the wild. “We don’t have to run from lions to survive anymore.

That fear our brain creates isn’t needed the way it used to be. The brain is constantly anticipating harmful scenarios so we can be ready for a threat. It’s not always a bad thing to have fear, because it keeps us safe, but because we don’t need the protection quite like we used to, these kids need to be aware that they can question their fears to see if they are warranted,” she says. “Thoughts are just thoughts, and not always based in reality.”

such questions as: What do I value? What do I want in life?

How can I remove the obstacles to those goals? “I always try to get a three-dimensional picture of what makes these kids tick. I look at their health, their ability to manage their emotions, the depth of their relationships, their habits, how they manage their time and emotions, their role models and who they surround themselves with, and why they think they want something,” she says. “I also look at whether they see possibility in themselves and their circumstances or whether they are blaming others for their problems and frustrations.”

When teens compare themselves to others, they begin to believe that they should already know what they want to do. “The pressure builds in our kids’ minds, and they freeze up, not knowing which way to go.” She says most teens and twenty-somethings don’t know what they want, who they are or what they value—that comes with experience. She helps young people align their thoughts, actions and values. “Once they see what makes them tick at the deeper level, and align their actions with who they really are and what they really value, then the sky’s the limit for them.”

PUSH BACK She helps students refocus on empowering responses so that negative thoughts don’t take root.

“If they say to themselves, ‘I’m so stupid,’ every time they make a mistake—and that thought is left unquestioned—then they compound that self-talk year after year, constantly looking for ways to prove to themselves and everyone around them that it’s true. Instead, we can remind them that challenges are what make people smarter as they overcome them. Then they will begin to take more healthy risks and have fun with the idea that it’s OK to make mistakes. It’s part of that same growth process that makes them smarter.”

POWER MOVE “A lot of students in rigorous environments feel like they can’t make mistakes,” Caroline explains.

“When they come to a hurdle, they stop.” Not taking healthy risks limits personal growth, and negative self-talk can have

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PARENT TRAP Helping kids avoid challenges may lead to feelings of anxiety and depression later.

The science shows that their brains make new connections and actually grow stronger when they hit roadblocks and uncertain times where they must learn how to overcome them.

If we can get these kids to see a tough challenge through this empowering filter, they will most likely enjoy solving their problems and helping others.

shop by megan gagnon

H OLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

dress the part

set the scene

at your leisure

spa-tify

dining in

PG. 21

PG. 22

PG. 23

PG. 24

PG. 25

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

We’ve had most of the year to become professional homebodies.

Isn’t a season with shorter days and colder nights the perfect time to put our new skills to good use? Still, we could all use some help in lifting our spirits (bottled spirits are a great place to start). Here, a guide for everyone who’s staying in. After all, there’s no place like home for the holidays (and we know you’re not traveling anywhere, anyway).

shop / H OLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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THE PART getting cozy never looked so good 1 UGG Fluffette slipper; $89.95. Nordstrom, The SoNo Collection; nordstrom.com 2 JOHN ELLIOTT Escobar heather gray lounge pant; $248. Mitchells, Westport; mitchellstores.com 3 TORY BURCH Striped poncho; $358. Greenwich; toryburch.com 4 JENNI KAYNE Shearling slide sandal; $325. jennikayne.com 5 KERRI ROSENTHAL Oversized patchwork cashmere hoodie; $448. Westport; kerrirosenthal.com 6 MOTHER DENIM Busy Doin’ Nothing socks; $24. Penfield Collective, Fairfield; penfieldcollective.com 7 EUGENIA KIM Maryn knotted headband; $145. modaoperandi.com 8 JOIE Jorja sweater; $328. Greenwich; joie.com 9 SKIN Double layer pant; $148. Soleil Toile, New Canaan, Westport; soleiltoile.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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shop / H OLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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set the SCENE

5

a house warming starter set

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1 MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS Herringbone throw; $260. Greenwich; mgbwhome.com 2 SANTA MARIA NOVELLA Pot Pourri; $35. Navy Lobster, Greenwich 3 THE USB LIGHTER COMPANY USB rechargeable lighter; $38. Back 40 Mercantile, Old Greenwich; back40mercantile.com 4 JØRGEN RASMUSSEN Sheepskin throw 23.6” x 41.3”; $95. Design WIthin Reach, Stamford, Westport; dwr.com 5 TELLEFSEN ATELIER Wildflower mug; $55.Wee Mondine, Darien; weemondine.com 6 DIPTYQUE Small candle holder in gold by Osanna Visconti; $1,750. diptyqueparis.com 7 OLD MAN MCKITTRICK’S Hello Lily Rose candle; $42. Hickory & Tweed, Armonk; hickoryandtweed.com 8 CHRONICLE BOOKS Hygge & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life; $35. Eleish van Breems Home, Westport; evbantiques.com 9 FARMHOUSE POTTERY Fatwood firestarter bag; $32. West Elm, Westport; westelm.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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leisure 7

it’s all fun and games (and puzzles, lots of puzzles)

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1 PRINTWORKS Classic Domino set; $32. verishop.com 2 CHRONICLE BOOKS Gin Rummy playing cards; $14.99. Anthropologie, Westport; anthropologie.com 3 SMITH STREET BOOKS Bowie Bingo; $29.95. smithstreetbooks.com 4 RIZZOLI Tiger King puzzle; $14.95. Elm Street Bookstore, New Canaan; elmstreetbooks.com 5 CAVALLINI AND CO. Vintage succulents puzzle; $22. Terrain, Westport; shopterrain.com 6 AREAWARE Little puzzle thing; $15. areaware.com 7 SUNNYLIFE Mega jumbling tower game; $110. sunnylife.com 8 OMY Ultra washable markers; $17. maisonette.com 9 HYGGE GAMES I’m Not Saying You’re Stupid; $20. Beehive, Fairfield; thebeehivefairfield.com 10 JONATHAN ADLER Harlequin 2-in-1 game set; $25. jonathanadler.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

8

shop / H OLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

2 1

3

spa-TIFY

4

the relaxing music and cucumber water are optional

6 7

5

1 LE LABO Body scrub; $48. Greenwich; lelabofragrances.com 2 SERENA & LILY Positano linen robe; $128. Westport; serenaandlily.com 3 AESOP Gentle deep-cleansing duo; $100.

Greenwich; aesop.com 4 SAVVY + GRACE Luxe hot water bottle; $29.95. Westport; savvyandgracewestport.com 5 TRIUMPH & DISASTER Ritual face cleanser; $30.Organachs Farm to Skin, Westport; organachsfarmtoskin.com 6 STRANGE BIRD Inner Light moisturizer; $78. Inner Light, Darien; innerlight-wellness.com 7 MZ SKIN Light therapy golden facial treatment device; $625. Bluemercury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport; bluemercury.com 8 JOANNA VARGAS Magic Glow Wand; $285. joannavargas.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

8

shop / H OLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

2 1 3 6

dining

4

IN

no reservations necessary

7 8 1 RIZZOLI The Perfect Kitchen; $55. Waterworks, Greenwich; waterworks.com 2 MATER Double bottle; $190. shophorne.com 3 FLOUR BAKERY Assorted frozen cookie dough; $89.95.

Williams Sonoma, Westport; williams-sonoma.com 4 BRIGHTLAND The Duo, 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil; $74. brightland.com 5 CARL AUBOCK Hand beer opener; $195. The Glass House Design Store, New Canaan; designstore.theglasshouse.org 6 JULISKA Graham bar tool set; $198. Stamford; juliska.com 7 LSA Paddle tapas set; $145. The Perfect Provenance, Greenwich; theperfectprovenance.com 8 TERRA KAFFE TK-01 espresso machine; $775. store.moma.org F

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

5

home

by megan gagnon

JAMES DE WULF Ping Pong table; $13,216. jamesdewulf.com

concrete ideas CEMENT MIXING N E V E R L O O K E D S O C O O L

IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Concrete has come a long way from your basement floor and bunker walls.

Modern applications add unexpected texture and a contemporary aesthetic to any space. And although heavy in weight (the below table weighs 1,000 lbs), the pieces are strong enough to stand the test of time.

It's no surprise we are craving concrete and stone right now.

During uncertain times, these are materials that we can shape and make our own. They stand for permanence, strength and stability.

Kristin Allen, Avantgarden Ltd

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TECH LIGHTING Karam pendant light; starting at $496.40. lumens.com

KAST Rho concrete basin; $2,080. jlhardwareatx.com

WEST ELM Volume round pedestal coffee table; $499. Westport; westelm.com

CRAFT STUDIO Concrete marbled tray; $90. Eleish van Breems Home, Westport; evbantiques.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 FAIRFIELD LIVING

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go Cadillac plans to re-enter the electric arena with the Lyriq in 2023.

CHARGING FORWARD

S

ince introducing the Prius in 1997, Toyota alone has sold 11 million hybrids.

But equally influential is the brand that turned the automobile industry on its ear, Tesla, which is nearing its millionth sale and clearly gearing up to conquer the world with a long list of new styles to come. And now, automobile brands are rushing to copy the all-electric whoosh of highly stimulating propulsion.

So here’s what’s up. Coming environmental regulations guarantee it, and manufacturers know it. The most desirable Ferrari now, for instance, is

the new SF90 Stradale that offers silent running from its three electric motors as well the shrieking fortissimo of its turbo V8, producing altogether nearly a 1,000 horsepower.

Porsche fanatics love their wonderful engines, but gracing the showrooms right now is the brand’s sleek Tesla-fighter, the Taycan, an insanely fast EV. The Taycan’s urgency is matched by Porsche’s electric intentions.

Cadillac abandoned its hybrid Escalade model seven years ago, but is now hustling one back into the showrooms, all the while preparing us for its new Lyriq in

by chris hodenfield

2023, an electric vehicle with lines as swoopy as its name.

Jaguar, which already sells the I-Pace crossover, is about to introduce a new electric flagship XJ model.

Audi has already been selling electric versions of its Q-model SUVs in Europe and will now bring them here. BMW and Mercedes also have electric offerings.

Ford is about to do the unthinkable this year with the Mustang Mach-E, a version that grafts those classic Mustang lines on an EV crossover. They promise 300 miles of range, too. Sounds interesting.

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Anyone who has experienced the eyeball-flattening thrill of a Tesla knows any of these models promise excitement. But what about, you know, more reasonable options?

Sensible shoppers will still want to examine Hyundai’s Kona Electric, a nifty pepper pot that provides 250-mile range for about $40,000.

Maybe the cheapest way to jump into an electric ride is the new Mini E at around $30,000.

The range is limited to 100 miles, but anyone with a garage-charger could make do. One thing we do know from our electric-car experience: It will be fun to drive.

CONTRIBUTED

ELECTRIC POWER IS GIVING SERIOUS JUICE TO THE FUTURE

go

homeward bound MONEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BUY LOVE, BUT IT CAN BUY CITIZENSHIP

P

PHOTO BY ©MEGAFLOPP - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

rivate jets won’t get you around international travel bans, but a second passport could. Citizenship by Investment programs (CIPs) have been the quiet secret of wealthy global travelers since St. Kitts and Nevis launched the first program in 1984. Some programs don’t even require a visit to the country. Yet, the investor (and family) gain lifetime citizenship and passports that allow for greater travel flexibility than the U.S. passport does currently.

More than sixty nations, the U.S. included, allow legal residents to apply for citizenship after meeting specific criteria. But only about a dozen countries allow nonresidents to purchase citizenship outright.

You read that correctly: You can buy citizenship, and a more powerful passport, in several countries worldwide, without ever leaving home.

Is this legal? There is no law against a U.S. citizen holding dual citizenship.

Here’s what to know. (And the first thing is, it’s gonna cost you.)

HOW DOES IT WORK? In the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis offer citizenship through investment. Investors either donate to the government (yes, that is the terminology) or invest in a government-approved real estate project. In Europe, there are multiple programs, Cyprus

(wherever that may be)

by kim-marie evans

Generally it’s less expensive and quicker to obtain citizenship in the Caribbean. However, European citizenship can be more desirable. Much like you might join the local swim and tennis club while waiting for membership at the golf club, some applicants are obtaining Caribbean citizenship while also pursuing European passports.

Due to increased demand, some governments have made their programs more enticing.

St. Kitts is offering a limitedtime sale on its citizenship. Nuri Katz, the founder of Apex Capital Partners who specializes in immigration, says that in the spirit of competition, some countries are even expanding the definition of “dependent” to include siblings or parents. In 2017, Katz estimated that around 5,000 people per year acquired citizenship abroad through CIPs. In 2020, he puts that number closer to 25,000, though no official numbers exist.

and Malta being the most sought after. Some require applicants to set up nonprofits, establish companies that create local jobs, or live in the country for a specified period. Others enable applicants to invest in government bonds, real estate and development projects remotely. For a comprehensive list of programs and rules, see websites such as HenleyGlobal .com or ApexCapital.Partners.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? For anywhere from $100,000 to several million dollars,

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you can buy a second—or a third—passport. Antigua and Dominica are the least expensive with a $100,000 investment requirement, and Cyprus, one of the most costly, is over 2 million dollars. Cyprus and Malta are more desirable because citizenship grants the applicant and their family unlimited access to live and work throughout the European Union. These prices don’t include processing fees, which can run to almost six figures. Each program has specific criteria, and all require a strict vetting process. Malta claims to reject 20 to 25 percent of all applicants. It’s not strictly “pay to play,” but it’s close.

Do your due diligence. Each program is unique, and it takes research to know which suits your particular needs. Plans come and go: Ireland no longer allows citizenship by investment, and there are rumors that Albania will launch a program soon.

A specialist can help you navigate the many options, and for goodness sake, don’t wave your new passport on Instagram (we’re looking at you Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson). Some things are best kept to oneself.

do

GET LIT!

TWO WOMEN GONE MISSING. FAMILIES IN TURMOIL. A CRIME THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE. HERE ARE THREE MUST-READS THAT WILL GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND KEEP YOU TURNING THE PAGES WAY PAST YOUR BEDTIME by emily liebert

DON’T LOOK FOR ME BY WENDY WALKER

ANXIOUS PEOPLE BY FREDRIK BACKMAN

INVISIBLE GIRL BY LISA JEWELL

T

B

O

ackman, the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, delivers an emotionally charged comedy about an almost bank robber who evaporates into thin air and the eight highly anxious strangers he leaves behind. Simply stated, it’s a crime that never took place.

Apartment hunting isn’t a matter of life or death for most people. But when a failed bank robber storms into an open house and takes the eight strangers hostage, they’re forced to reveal hidden truths about themselves.

There’s Zara, a bank director, whose life has been struck by tragedy and now she’s fixated on frequenting open houses to see how regular people live and, also, to right a wrong that’s been plaguing her. Julia and Ro, a lesbian couple awaiting a baby, can’t agree on anything and fear that their future together may not be as successful as they’d hoped. Roger and Anna-Lena are retired and obsessed with finding a fixer-upper they can fill with Ikea furniture as a means of ignoring the fact that their marriage may be unrepairable. And Estelle, who’s eighty years old and lying about her daughter and husband.

wen Pick’s life is unraveling.

He’s just been suspended from his job as a teacher, on the heels of a sexual misconduct claim, which he vehemently denies. Not to mention that he’s a thirty-something-year-old virgin, living in his aunt’s spare bedroom.

Across the street, lives the Fours family, consisting of mom, Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad, Roan, a child psychologist. And they don’t particularly like Owen, especially after their teenaged daughter insists he followed her home from the train station.

In the meantime, a young woman named Saffyre Maddox—who was Roan Fours’ patient for three years—is feeling forsaken when their therapy ends and she’s desperate to maintain her connection with Roan. Surreptitiously, she follows him and ends up learning more than she expected about Roan and the Fours family, until Valentine’s night when Saffyre disappears.

Unfortunately for Owen, he was the last person to see her alive.

This shockingly twisted thriller about a group of people whose lives unexpectedly intersect when a woman vanishes will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

EDITOR'S NOTE If you like these suggestions, don't forget this columnist's own new book: PERFECTLY FAMOUS is a suspenseful thriller set in Connecticut.

Makes a great gift for the readers on your list! fairfieldlivingmag.com

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CONTRIBUTED

hey call it a “walk away” when women disappear, urgent to exchange their lives for a fresh start.

Apparently, it happens all the time, just as it did for grief-stricken wife and mother Molly Clarke, when her car was abandoned miles from home and a note was found at a nearby hotel, leaving her family shattered.

Molly clearly does not want to be found. Or so the story goes.

But is that really what happened?

Molly’s daughter, Nicole, isn’t convinced, despite their challenging relationship—especially when a new lead is introduced two weeks after they’ve stopped searching for her mother. Nicole finds out that there was another woman who went missing from their same small town and also unearths a covert and isolated property, bringing her closer to the truth about what happened the night Molly vanished.

This story is “about a woman with a tragic past and seemingly bleak future. A woman who has a flash about walking away from her life. A woman who takes a ride from a man and his young daughter, who reminds her of the child she lost years before,” explains Walker.

“Molly’s disappearance and her daughter’s desperate search to find her fill the pages with twists, turns and unexpected revelations.

But at its heart, this is a story about grief, acceptance and the power of redemption.”

Support Boys & Girls Village and Change Someone’s Future!

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We are here.

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Learn more at: www.bgvillage.org/vocational-sponsor/ BGV has been serving CT's most vulnerable youth for 78 years.

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do

left: Founder Jesse Levin above: The Readiness Collective teaches practical skills in a setting that is not intimidating—seen here, hanging seats, community table and, far left, the medical area with emergency-kit and go-bag training

GET READY

THE READINESS COLLECTIVE , BY TACTIVATE, LAUNCHES TO PROVIDE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FROM EXPERTS IN OUR MIDST by diane sembrot

P

top: The check-in area and, at right, the training area for homesteading skills below: The space for Community Emergency Readiness Workshops

andemic. Hurricane. Tornado sightings. Major power outages.

Winter on the horizon. Jesse Levin, a Staples grad, timed his new business well.

He runs Tactivate (an advisory firm that applies emergency-response expertise to prep individuals, businesses and communities and deploys expeditionary entrepreneurial capabilities in the aftermath of disasters), and its new offshoot: The Readiness Collective.

“Through our parent initiative, Tactivate, we have been conducting disaster-response and economic-stability efforts worldwide for over a decade,” he says. “We have worked with leading experts from military Special Operations personnel to communications, water-purification and supply-chain specialists. We are curating the best trainers, gear providers and subject-matter experts to teach classes, offer insight and provide training and outfitting for our community in a new breed of schoolhouse and training club.”

The takeaway: Don’t wait until something happens—work out scenarios and responses ahead of time. “EMT-B training, for example,”

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he says, “sounds like a heavy lift, but it really is doable. How about learning to use a chainsaw safely or how to operate the generator you purchased and never unboxed? If you don’t have a generator, purchase one and learn about the different types, gas shelf life versus diesel or solar versus other systems.”

The business is all about preparedness. “We launch ventures hand in hand with military Special Operations veterans and use the cash flow to sponsor teams to conduct disasterresponse and emergency economic-stability operations worldwide,” Levin says of the broad strokes. But if that sounds heavy, take heart, because he’s bringing preparedness to the masses. “Our main focus through all privatesector projects has been experimenting with how to really socialize ‘readiness’ in a non-militaristic, prepper or fringe manner to make the skills more palatable and accessible.”

So, while skills are important when a threat looms large, so too is understanding that an effective response is linked to the community.

“People should get to know their neighbors, come to understand what resources and

ALL IMAGES, INCLUDING RENDERING BY RYAN STUDIO ARCHITECTURE, PROVIDED BY THE READINESS COLLECTIVE

do skills exist on their street and work to fill any gaps,” Levin says. “Maybe someone has a whole-house generator, while someone else is a doctor, and yet another neighbor is an arborist. Cultivate community, learn to be capable, have backup power and start training to be a provider and protector versus a dependent.” (Ouch, but true.) “Make it an adventure and bring in your family or group of friends to train in readiness disciplines.

Most important, wherever you decide to go, seek training, make friends, cultivate community and prepare as if the community depended on you.”

So why have emergency pros? “The best way to support first responders is to reduce the burden on them,” he explains. The key is to be more self-reliant. He wants to show you how.

“Purchasing a prepackaged medical kit, a mountain of toilet paper, thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearms does not equate to preparedness. Much of the information presented publicly in the vein of ‘prepping’ and survival is focused on isolating and a we-vs-they mentality. In actuality, as anyone that has been through a major disaster will tell you, it takes a community,” he says.

The Readiness Collective, serving as a hub for teaching new skills and connecting one another, focuses on ensuring people and businesses are not just reacting, but are proactive. In short, it covers “situational awareness, medical, communications, logistics, group dynamics, equipment to homesteading and mental and physical resilience” on-site, with “high-touch customized training and outfitting.”

Translation: You won’t be sitting in a chair.

“We are now bringing together over a decade of both brick-and-mortar venture launch and disaster-response expertise to launch the first emergency-readiness training club and gear gallery and outfitter in the country. This will be an emergency-readiness trade school of sorts and social club to bring best-in-class trainers, equipment and expertise to the community. The good news is readiness is a lifestyle and discipline is a blast to cultivate.” While learning medical skills, how to operate a HAM radio, and what to pack in a vehicle emergency kit, people are making

connections. “We facilitate social collisions through training and gatherings among first responders, veterans, creatives, business owners, etc., so there will be familiarity, connectivity and a baseline competency,” he says, “creating a more collective and capable group dynamic.”

Launching at the SoNo Collection, it even offers certifications.

More at readinesscollective.com and tactivate.com.

PREPARE, DON'T PANIC “From Tequila and Tourniquets, our famous Happy Hour medical class, to learning how to build chicken coops or set up emergency solar generators and panels, this is the first social club for readiness. Topics range from navigation, off-grid communication, medical skills, social movement theory to breath control, food security and trade skills like how to change a tire, build a water collection system and more.” —Founder Jesse Levin

Emergency Readiness is a discipline and a practice that requires cultivation, no different than diet and exercise. It’s a team sport. jesse levin, founder

above: The plans for the new venture show the various training stations, from vehicle preparedness to body/mind focus techniques

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eat

f ish, oysters & more A QUICK GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD IN WESTPORT AND FAIRFIELD by eliz abeth keyser

T

he waters of seafood fishery can be murky and mysterious: over-fishing, bycatch waste, environmental damage, mislabeling, use of antibiotics in farmed fish, low wages, forced and child labor.

Ready for the good news? Local fishermen and fishmongers are navigating the vast supply chain by focusing on sustainability, transparency and tracing. For example, FJORD FISH MARKET in Westport and NORDIC FISH in Fairfield offer high-quality, sustainable seafood. “Our number one goal is a safe

product on peoples’ plates,” says Jim Thistle, co-owner of Fjord (fjordfishmarket.com) since 2012.

A good general rule, says Nordic (nordicfishfairfield.com) co-owner Jardar Nygaard, is choosing fish from U.S. boats and fisheries, which are managed and regulated with fishing quotas. “Anything from Alaska to Maine is sustainable,” he says. “And if you support local fishermen, you’re supporting sustainability.”

Our most local sustainable fishermen are

Norm Bloom and Sons (coppsislandoysters. com), which farm bluepoint oysters in beds off the Westport and Norwalk islands.

Oysters filter gallons of water every day and absorb nitrogen into their bodies and shells.

Excessive nitrogen in the water causes growth of algae that damages the ecosystem.

So removing oysters from the water and eating them is good for the environment.

Norm Bloom and Sons’ oysters are available in local fish markets and are on many local restaurant menus.

DROP A LINE shops in this story Copps Island oystermansdaughter.com/shop/oysters —online ordering

Fjord Fish Market 1835 Post Rd., Westport; fjordfishmarket.com —also take-out and delivery

Nordic Fish 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield; nordicfishfairfield.com —also take-out

PLUS: Other favorite places to shop for sustainable seafood: The Local Catch at the Westport Farmers Market and Fairfield Farmers Market and Double L Market

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Co-owners Frank Lanzo and Jardar Nygaard

Impress guests with an arrangement of fresh shrimp

OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPH BY © ©PIXEL-SHOT - STOCK.ADOBE.COM ; RIGHT: NORDIC SEAFOOD CASE AND OWNERS, CONTRIBUTED; SHRIMP BY THAPPI YU; THISTLE, CONTRIBUTED

JARDAR NYGAARD, co-owner, Nordic COD “We get Icelandic cod, fished by hook and line. [It's packaged] fresh, in air-freight boxes with gelpacks, and we get it the next morning.

The quality is exceptional, clean, thick and healthy.”

MUSSELS “Prince Edward Island is a huge producer of mussels. They’re grown on ropes,

so they don’t have sand or pearls.

Mussels do grow well in Connecticut, but they need a lot of processing equipment.”

SHRIMP “We get Gulf shrimp and Carolina white shrimp. Mexican wild shrimp is good, and so is Ecuadorian farm-raised. They harvest the wild larva and sell it to the farmers.”

JIM THISTLE, co-owner, Fjord SALMON “We instituted a no-antibiotics policy. We get our salmon from Hidden Fjord in the Faroe Islands, a small group of islands between Iceland and the UK.” SHRIMP “The majority of shrimp is caught on trawlers that catch six times as much bycatch as shrimp. My partner and I found a company out of Mexico, Del Pacifico, that works with fisherman on small boats with almost zero

Plenty of fresh seafood options year-round at Nordic

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percent bycatch.

We watched how they use a small net and pull it up by hand, not fast like a trawler, which allows bycatch to escape. And Del Pacifico has a Fair Trade Certification, which verifies that everyone is paid a fair working wage.”

Insider Tip “Another dirty secret of the fishing industry is after they catch the fish they soak it in sodium tripolyphosphate, which makes it weigh more. None of our shrimp is soaked.”

eat HERE'S THE CATCH

ROLL WITH IT: SUSHI

SEA HARVEST Serving with Bloom and Son’s Copps Island bluepoint oysters…

1 // Casino-style at Artisan 2 // On the half shell at Pearl 3 // On the half shell at Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar

N E W F L AV O R // Both Fjord and Nordic offer sushi and poke bowls, prepared by on-site sushi chefs.

Nordic’s chef is Korean. “I’m a fan of traditional sushi,” says Nygaard, “but I love the flavor the Korean sushi chefs put in it. It’s two cultures in one.”

JARDAR NYGAARD co-owner, Nordic

4 // Roasted with kimchi at The Whelk

above: Copps Island Oysters, a good choice now

DEEPER DIVE Dishes with sustainable seafood…

1 // Bonda: mussels steamed with tomato and fennel

2 // Martel: Buck-aShuck Happy Hour (Charles Island, Milford, oysters) 3 // OKO: Santa Barbara Uni Toast and Maine sea scallop sashimi

4 // The Pantry: grilled citrus swordfish and chili-lime salsa (order ahead)

above: Try something new this season: Nordics sushi

F O R T H E H O L I D AYS // The wild seafood platter at Fjord is a popular centerpiece for the holiday table, piled with shrimp, lobster, Jonah crab claws and crabmeat. Most Nordic customers seem to stick with tradition on the holidays, but we ask why not bring a sushi platter to the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

5 // Quattro Pazzi: fried Montauk calamari 6 // Rive Bistro: moules frites Provencal fairfieldlivingmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY: FJORD SUSHI FROM INSTAGRAM @FJORDFISHMARKET; NORDICS SUSHI FROM INSTAGRAM @ NORDICFISH ;SOY BOTTLE ©ART_RICH - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; EEL SUSHI © ©NADIANB - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; OYSTERS FROM INSTAGRAM @COPPSISLANDOYSTERS

above: Fresh sushi from Fjord

I’m a fan of traditional sushi but I love the flavor the Korean sushi chefs put in it.

It’s two cultures in one.

MONEY / BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

fınance fıx

THE PAY OFF

THE (NOT SO) SECRET MOVES OF THE ULTRA-RICH THAT ALL OF US SHOULD KNOW

Scott Patten

PORTRAIT, CONTRIBUTED; TAX PREP ©DEVRIM_PINAR - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

L

ooking at your neighbors and wondering, Why are they so rich? It’s probably not off-shore hideaways, start-up equity or complicated alternative investments. The “secrets” of the rich sound like practices of the comfortable, with a few tweaks.

High-net-worth households (more than $1 million in liquid assets) are not hard to find here.

According to Census statistics, our state counts more than 100,000, with concentrated pockets in Fairfield County. Ultra-high-net worth households (with more than $30 million in liquid assets) seem like a different breed altogether.

Yet their strategies for money management can be remarkably similar, says Scott Patten, senior advisor at Northeast Financial Consultants in Westport, which serves high-net-worth and ultrahigh-net-worth clients and counts more than $3.3 billion in assets under management.

Often, these clients exercise “a holistic approach” to their saving, spending, investing and tax management. “It’s not reaching for the stars and there’s no magical cure-all,” he says. “It’s save and invest over time.”

Start early.

Wealth is built over time. Many of our millionaire neighbors started simply: making money, saving some of it and investing that savings. As weeks turned to months, to years and to decades, return on their investments compounded. Says Patten, fancy investments and hedge funds are “not the panacea. Building wealth is diligence over time. Come up with structures where you’re minimizing your fees, minimizing your tax impact and contributing over time.”

If you’re just starting out, try to contribute to your 401(k) at least to a match level, Patten says. Max out your Health Savings Account and invest the HSA money. Pay medical bills out-of-pocket, while your HSA grows tax-free. When you’re older and you need the money for medical costs, you can pull it out with no tax consequence.

index funds or exchange-traded funds. With your credit cards, opt for low to no annual fees and a cash-back option. Yes, Patten assures, the rich get cash back on their cards, “and they have it deposited into a brokerage account.”

Pay off your credit cards each month.

Look to refinance your mortgage if you’re paying 4 percent or more. And “don’t overreach on your spending,” he says. Don’t buy the bigger house, the vacation home or the fancy car if you have to dip into an account you’re targeting for another goal.

Spread out your savings.

Don’t limit your savings to retirement accounts. Financial security later in life is only part of the equation. Start a simple investment account using whatever money you can spare.

“When people think of large numbers, it tends to act as a mental block in their ability to get started. But when you get started with small numbers—$50 a month, then $100, then $200— it makes a huge difference. Over time that continues to build on its own, as long as you’re not pulling it out.”

Put Junior to work.

“For children earning summer income, I recommend they start a Roth right out of the gate. Put at least half their earnings in.,” he says. “That long-term tax-free compounding helps you grow tax-free wealth. It’s continuous, a bit here and there.”

Generate passive income.

Get money working for you, growing on its own, whether in brokerage accounts, real estate, rental income, side businesses.

The more sources, the better.

“The idea is to get it in a position to grow on its own.” F

Watch your fees.

The rich can be penny-pinchers.

Do what they do and keep costs and spending to a minimum.

In your investments, aim for low-cost or no-load options, such as S&P 500 or NASDAQ

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THE PLAN Beware the Invisible Predator: TAXES Your assets can grow, grow, grow, but a tax bill between you and liquidity could mean a lot less money than you anticipated. The rich don’t cut corners when it comes to strategic tax planning, says Patten. “Taxes are such a huge part of wealth management. How you structure your assets should always be taken from a tax perspective.

You have to be fluent in that.” Nuances in the tax law dictate whether to sell a great investment, exercise stock options or pull forward your bonus, and how to structure trusts and estate plans.

“It’s your money. Ask questions and stay on top of the news,” he says.

“Educate yourself.”

Our Mission The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure.

To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.

If you would like to learn more about BCA, please visit breastcanceralliance.org

Contact us!

Breast Cancer Alliance, 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 P 203.861.0014 F 203.861.1940 Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director

www.facebook.com/ breastcanceralliance

@BCAllianceCT

fairfieldlivingmag.com

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@breastcanceralliance

TENDING A BAR DURING COVID

RAISE YOUR

SPIRITS

4 Fairfield bartenders on their creative solutions to Covid—and what to drink now

©JANVIER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Whether you’re looking for a place where everyone knows your name or just somewhere to meet up with a friend, you could do yourself a favor by knowing a good bartender. They’ve seen it all, they’re good listeners, and they know how to create a drink that seems just right for you. Of course, nowadays, restaurants and bars are going through rough times thanks to Covid-19 and social distancing. We turned the tables on these locals by pulling up a barstool and asking how things are going with them. by diane sembrot

right A classic martini has a reassuring timelessness.

TENDING A BAR DURING COVID

left Jason Chamberlain, head bartender

1 Jason Chamberlain Boca Oyster Bar Metro Kitchen and Bar

High pressure isn’t the path for everyone, but crowds and urgency suits Chamberlain just fine. “I tried going the corporate route, and even did sales and marketing, but that just made me realize how much I missed bartending, and I knew I had to go back into the restaurant business.”

These days you can find him in Fairfield. He has worked with the Steelpointe Restaurant Group since the opening of Boca (bocaoysterbar.com) in 2019 and Metro (metrokitchenandbar .com) in 2020. Prior to that, he was behind the bar at Crave. With years of experience, he’s now leading others. “Head bartender means you’re the quarterback of the team. You need to manage the bar staff, control liquor costs and make sure the drinks sell and are consistent,” he says.

That’s especially true when

J

ason Chamberlain knew early on what he wanted. “I got into the restaurant industry at the age of twenty. I started as a host at my first restaurant job and slowly climbed the ladder to head bartender,” he says. “I worked in a lot of high-volume, fast-paced restaurants throughout Fairfield County and learned the craft in a completely hands-on manner— not just making drinks and frontof-the-house service, but also learning the ropes from the back of the house too.”

the unexpected happens. For example, he had to change as the food industry absorbed the impact of months of shut down and subsequent restrictions of re-opening due to Covid-19.

“For a time, my job was relegated to just the service bar. Covid took the fun out of the guest interaction since the actual bar wasn’t available for people to sit at. Fortunately, dining at the bar has since resumed.”

Thankfully, he brainstormed ways to connect with his customers, and some of those solutions stuck. “We are able to sell bottles of wine and to-go cocktails for takeout orders,” he says. “We had to get a little creative with that as to how we package the cocktails and which ones will travel the best, because we never want to compromise the quality of our products.”

the fun out of the guest interaction…fortunately, dining at the bar has since resumed.

–JASON CHAMBERLAIN fairfieldlivingmag.com

40

CONTRIBUTED

For a time, my job was relegated to just the service bar. Covid took

above: The bar at Boca and its popular Tequila Frosé. below: The promised comfort of Boca’s Old Fashioned.

FALL + HOLIDAY FAVORITES Manhattans and Old-Fashioneds become more popular, especially when you tweak the recipes with different ingredients. We have a great time creating our holiday cocktails—people are in a festive mood and enjoy trying new things. We infuse PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOAH FECKS

holiday and cool-weather flavor profiles and get creative with the garnishes. I’m pretty excited to come up with a solid Winter Sangria for the holiday season.

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TENDING A BAR DURING COVID

left Sheena Falcone, head bartender at the Fairfield location

2 Sheena Falcone

Flipside Burgers & Bar

open for just a year at that point, and, from the beginning, had been a popular and casual place for creative burgers (like The Waldorf Burger, with Gorgonzola cheese, green apples, candied walnuts and cranberry aioli) and seriously lengthy menu of cocktails, from its mango mojito to its sparkling pomegranate martini.

“It started off as a way to make some extra money, but I really enjoyed it. It’s flexible, let’s me stay home with my kids during the day, and I really like my coworkers—we’re like a family here. I also like working with people; working behind the bar gives me the opportunity to meet new people every day,” she says, “and it’s always interesting.”

As head bartender, she uses the many skills she has picked up and refined along the way. Aside from opening and closing the bar, she trains new bartending staff about good service and, for the sake of good times, lays down the law about how to prepare drinks.

“We are all about consistency.

Each drink should taste just as good as the last,” she says.

Even those who pride

W

hen drinks are half of your business, as they are at Flipside Burgers & Bar (it’s in the name, after all; flipsiderestaurant.com), you know your bartender better be good. Meet Sheena Falcone.

“After graduating from college with a degree in liberal studies, which really has no direct link to any field, I found a full-time job. But it wasn’t enough. So I took on Flipside as a second job, and I’ve been bartending here for the past ten years,” Sheena says.

The Fairfield Flipside had been

themselves on consistency can get thrown for a loop— such as a pandemic. “During the initial shut down, we were able to stay open for takeout service,” but, she adds, “I didn’t work for several weeks.” Once the state permitted restaurants to include alcoholic beverages with its takeout orders, Sheena was called back to help with the orders.

Then, over the summer, things began to open up.

“We are bartending, but it is definitely a different vibe.

We don’t have actual customers at the bar. It’s eerie to work behind a bar with no one to really serve,” she says at the cusp of fall, when the restaurant provides dine-in service on its patio, front lounge and indoors.

While Flipside now offers to-go service for drinks, she concludes, “After being quarantined for so long, people are just happy to be out and to enjoy restaurants again.” Let’s all drink to that.

For another reason the cheer, the Fairfield Flipside has a new sister restaurant, which recently opened in nearby Milford.

people are just happy to be out and to enjoy restaurants again.

–SHEENA FALCONE fairfieldlivingmag.com

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CONTRIBUTED

After being quarantined for so long,

PHOTOGRAPHY: TOP, COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM @FLIPSIDEBURGERSANDBAR; BOTTOM ©MICHAEL GRAY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

above, left: Pumpkin season brings Pumpkin Pie Martini and, in background, the UFO Pumpkin Beer above, right: Flipside offers curbside pick up of its drinks, including its Monster cocktails (sangria, margaritas, scorpion bowls, hurricanes and more) below: Sheena’s favorite holiday drink, the Grinchtini is like mint chocolate chip ice cream.

PLAYING FAVORITES Come pumpkin season we switch gears and have a pumpkin shandy on draft. We serve ours with a cinnamon/sugar rim just to make it even more festive. The pumpkin pie martini will surely hit the drink list. Oh, and our pumpkin spice adult shake. But for my favorite holiday drink, I’d have to go with our Grinchtini—a.k.a. Mintchiptini.

It’s like mint chocolate chip ice cream, only with alcohol.”

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TENDING A BAR DURING COVID

left Andrew Smith, head bartender

3 Andrew Smith

The Chelsea

sip while watching the snow fall and surrounded by family and friends.”

He knows what he’s talking about. Smith has been pouring drinks, hot and cold, for a long time. He started out about seven years ago at Bar Sugo, a small Italian restaurant in East Norwalk. “I served, learned some bartending skills and managed at Bar Sugo very briefly before the business changed hands,” he says. While that was his foray into professional bartending, there were early signs that this would be his career. “I’ve always had an affinity for serving. In high school I tended the snack bar at a teen center, and I caddied for over a decade at Country Club of Darien. It all just came together to help me become personable and hard-working. Couple that with my love of delicious food and wonderful drinks, and it was really a no-brainer for me: I’d go where I loved the menu.” That love has kept him behind the bar

“I

always equate the colder weather with dark beers, big, bold red wines, and nice dark spirits— whiskey/bourbon—something that would be enjoyed in front of the fire,” says Andrew Smith, head bartender at The Chelsea (thechelseaff.com). The restaurant itself is a cozy spot to duck into when a chilly breeze blows through downtown. “I’ve always loved mulled wine for holiday parties. But, for myself, I enjoy a spiked hot cocoa or an Irish coffee—just the perfect at-home

at The Chelsea for three years.

Now head bartender, he does more than pour his regulars’ favorites. He dissects his days in three parts: “Playing with new ingredients and combinations; ensuring all the prep work is set for the week; keeping management aware of inventory and any unforeseen shifts in customer requests.”

And once in a lifetime he helps to guide the restaurant through an unforeseeable pandemic— and reverberations of shutdown, implementing restrictions and steps toward re-opening. “It has largely stayed the same,” he says, taking it in stride. “The name of the game has always been cleanliness, and now there’s just more focus from the whole staff to ensure everyone’s safety.”

One of the biggest changes at The Chelsea has been launching takeout drinks—and it turned into a big win: “It’s been a very nice touch to accompany takeout food.”

takeout drinks—and it turned into a big win: nice touch to accompany takeout food.

It’s been a very

–ANDREW SMITH

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CONTRIBUTED

One of the biggest changes at The Chelsea has been launching

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY INSTAGRAM: TOP @THECHELSEAFAIRFIELD; BOTTOM @GREENHOOKGIN

above, left: Bulleir Harvest, created with Bulleir Bourbon on the rocks with housemade cider syrup and a cut of lemon peel above, right: The Chelsea’s coasters for in-house Greenhook Ginsmith’s Gin & Tonic in a handy to-go can

CAN YOU REALLY CAN A GOOD COCKTAIL? MAYBE. One thing that I’ve been seeing— and I’m sure we’ll see more of—is single-serving cocktails straight from the can. Distilleries are now packaging their own cocktails ready to go. I haven’t tried it yet, but I heard that Greenhook gin has a canned G&T, and that sounds pretty perfect for the backyard cookout.

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TENDING A BAR DURING COVID

left Head bartender at Brick Walk Tavern, Christina Alessandro

4 Christina Alessandro

Brick Walk Tavern

B

artenders are supposed to know the latest drink trends as well as how to re-create a classic that your grandfather once sipped. But there’s more to the job: the people. “I simply have never not been in the hospitality industry,” says Christina Alessandro, head bartender at Brick Walk Tavern (brickwalktavern.com), a comfy restaurant serving up American cuisine. From a familyowned tavern and restaurant, to culinary school, to catering, serving, directing events, sales, and bartending all throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties, she was meant to serve.

“You’re born with a certain something that drives you to this industry. You either have it or

you don’t, and you’ve got to love it,” she says. “Bartending has an instant gratifying aspect to it— within a minute or two you can really turn someone’s day around with a warm smile, open ear and cold beverage. It definitely allows for so much creativity, too. A neverending combination of spirits to blend into something new. Then again, just doing the classics well is something to be celebrated.”

The pandemic brings myriad repercussions, including stress and disruption. “We are still very much a new restaurant and with the interruption of Covid, we continue to introduce ourselves to the neighborhood,” says Alessansandro, who has worked at the tavern from its beginning

just over two years ago. “Being forced to shut down was a huge blow. Brick Walk, like everyone else, had to quickly reinvent itself in order to even attempt to keep alive. Transitioning to full takeout took a lot of work and was a huge learning curve.”

Her role in the tumult is to manage the bar. “The bar manager oversees the beverage program from front-of-house procedures, staff training and quality control to back-of-thehouse operations from inventory and cost control to distributor and brand relations. The entire bar staff lends their creativity to the menu and keeps the beverage program fresh while consistent.

I feel like whatever you do, do it well and make it consistent— that’s the key.”

Covid, though, necessitated change, so she adapted. “With takeout orders we began running half-price bottles of wine and then added some bottled and canned high-end mixed drinks, which our customers loved,” she says. “The next stage will be opening the bar. The owners’ first priority is the safety of the staff and all guests.”

some bottled and canned high-end mixed drinks, which our customers loved...The owners’ first priority is the safety of the staff and all guests. fairfieldlivingmag.com

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–CHRISTINA ALESSANDRO

CONTRIBUTED

With takeout orders we began running half-price bottles of wine and then added

above, left: Brick Walk Tavern’s comfortable interior, with drinks served to tables. above, right: The Peach Tea Spritzer for a light refreshment. below: Empress Gin, a key ingredient in one of Christina’s drinks, Chai Me Down and Love Me.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COVID Quarantini anyone? Certainly, we’ve all seen a big PHOTOGRAPHY: BOCA BY JULIE WEBEL; EMPRESS, CONTRIBUTED BY BRAND

increase in the sale of alcohol during the entirety of being quarantined. People have been doing a lot of cocktail experimenting in their spare time, as have we. We’ve had a really beautiful and delicious, long-standing gin drink with a gorgeous purple hue to it thanks to Empress Gin. It’s called the Chai Me Down and Love Me. It takes a few extra steps, including a ‘dry shake’ to amp up the foam, but it’s totally worth it. It’s served in a sexy little coupe glass. Also, I’m excited to be sipping some of our popular house-made eggnog by our toasty fireplace in the lounge. Chef David’s secret family recipe for eggnog is a winner.

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margaret tjimos goldberg

david rabin

alison sherman

LIGHT A Honoring those who went ABOVE and BEYOND

lana gifas

dave kuban

marc jaffe

nicole straight

bob granata

ria rueda

david kuban

FIRE by jill johnson mann | phot o gr aphs by mel ani lust

danielle blaine

2020

in UNPRECEDENTED TIMES stephanie webster

pj johns

michele conderino

W

e have honored our Light a Fire winners—our admirable neighbors who donate their time, money and passion to myriad causes—for thirteen years, but this year is like no other. This year, when the COVID-19 pandemic put Fairfield County in the eye of the storm, most of us just wanted to curl up in a ball with a laptop and Netflix subscription and wait it out. Authorities gave us an excuse, even a command, to stay at home.

But brave people among us—some essential workers and others who determined volunteering was more essential than ever—masked up and did what our Light a Fire winners always do: put everyone else ahead of themselves. Only this time, going to work at a homeless shelter every day, delivering hot meals to families who usually depend on school for that, providing childcare to healthcare workers—these deeds carried with them the risk of grave illness and even death. To the organizations honored here, the people who run them and the volunteers who serve them: our deepest gratitude and thanks for all you have done and continue to do in these unprecedented times.

One theme kept recurring during the interviews for this story—the struggle is not over. People have lost their livelihoods, homes, loved ones, and economic recovery will be slow. The need for food, shelter, support and hope will continue to be overwhelming this winter. Read about each of these organizations and consider where and how you might help. Perhaps you will find yourself in these pages next year.

Join us for a virtual celebration of our honorees hosted by James Naughton.

2020 Light A Fire

AWARDS

DECEMBER 3 /

THURSDAY 5:45-6:45PM fairfieldlivingmag.com

50

/

REGISTER AT LIGHTAFIREAWARDS.COM

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * HOMELESSNESS IMPACT *

ORGANIZATION

Open Doors MICHELE CONDERINO, Executive Director

WHAT WERE THE FIRST STEPS YOU TOOK WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH? We evaluated our physical [shelter] space, made sure we had enough PPE to keep everyone safe and suspended our volunteer program. We had to find every way to reduce exposure to people and advocate with the state to hotel our guests.

All of our older population were situated by late March and the rest of our population by April 6.

WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO KEEPING YOUR CLIENTS SAFE? At the beginning, there was so much we didn’t know. We were reading constantly, seeing what the CDC was saying, and fine-tuning our policy daily and having a lot of honest conversations with clients.

We explained: “You need to protect yourselves. We’ll do what we can, but it’s about the interactions you are having also.” I had a lot of fear as a leader; I wanted everybody to be safe. I worked on-site right through the pandemic; I don’t know how many hours. I felt it was important my staff knew I wasn’t asking them to do anything I wasn’t willing to do myself.

WORDS OF PRAISE

WHAT ARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF FROM THESE MONTHS?

During unprecedented times, government officials mandated stay-at-home orders, but complying with that directive requires having a home,” says board member Barbara Blasso. “At the outset of the COVID-19 threat, Michele and her team quickly assessed the high risk of exposure given the shelter environment and took immediate steps to reduce the risk of transmission among our most vulnerable.

How this organization has taken on its mission and really seen it through. We understood that what we do can be the difference between life and death. We had to do everything we could to keep people safe, and the staff really bought into it. I said to them, “Fifty years from now we will talk about this moment. I’m really proud we helped people.

I hope you are, too.”

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HOW ARE YOU PREPARING TO WEATHER WHAT THIS STORM MAY BRING IN 2021?

With a lot of reality. Even through the darkest moments of COVID, I knew the real challenge would be over the next couple of years— as unemployment rates rise, extra benefits end and eviction moratoriums end. Our true test will be the long term. We have the highest number of housing placements in the county at this time. We have to decrease capacity due to social distancing. We do everything we can to move people forward; there is a line waiting for that bed. There is a lot of fear in that, not only from COVID but from the elements as we approach winter. It gives us a lot of motivation to do the best we can. »

Impressive Stats Open Doors has remained open throughout the pandemic Kept 40-plus homeless clients safely sheltered through the crisis Secured payroll funding to protect the salary of every staff member Spearheaded a plan for the future with other community leaders serving the homeless Continued to provide meals through its kitchen and pantry, pivoting to takeout Continued running its employment program

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * GRASSROOTS IMPACT *

NICOLE STRAIGHT, Founder RIA RUEDA, ALISON SHERMAN, STEPHANIE WEBSTER, Cofounders ORGANIZATION

Food for the Front Lines

ni cole straight

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR FOOD FOR THE FRONT LINES? NICOLE STRAIGHT: My daughter called and said she was coming home from college. She is an EMT. Within three days at home, she was back doing her volunteer work. I started thinking, what can I do? Maybe I could buy

dollars had come in. I reached out to anyone who could connect me to the local ERs and it just started to snowball. Within a few days Stephanie Webster [founder of CT Bites] called me and said, “I love what you’re doing. I want to help. I know all the restaurants.”

She created the logo and handled the social media. Ria Rueda [a PR professional] texted me: “I want in.” Alison Sherman [former communication manager at Food Rescue, current CEO of The IfLife Foundation] joined in soon after and helped with print and TV PR. Margorie Almansie at Social Venture Partners offered to help with the back end, paying the restaurants; sometimes we were buying 2,000 meals a day. A big shout out to Tim Roof and Raleigh Leahy, also at SVP. Soon people all over started reaching out saying, I want to do this. At one time there were four Food for the Front Lines going on around the state.

some meals for the EMT staff.

I contacted Bill Taibe [chef and owner of several area restaurants] and asked if he’d be willing to make some boxed dinners. That’s how it started. I told my daughter, “Your service is what moved me to volunteer.”

HOW DID YOU EXECUTE YOUR PLAN? It wasn’t meant to be more than a one-night thing. But that initial bill was $750, so I posted on Facebook, asking if anyone wanted to contribute. By the next day, literally a few thousand

WORDS OF PRAISE

Food for the Front Lines raised money to pay restaurants to prepare food for Fairfield County hospitals and responders,” explains Monica Moore, one of several nominators of FFTFL. “They also helped start locations in New Haven, Hartford, Litchfield and Westchester counties. They then pivoted to raise money for pantry food essentials for unemployed restaurant workers, many of who are not getting unemployment, stimulus checks or food stamps. To date [August], they have hosted two food drives, feeding 3,200 people.

NOW THAT YOU’VE MOVED BACK TO YOUR HOME STATE, CALIFORNIA, HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THIS EXPERIENCE HERE? I think it was the perfect storm.

I was so lucky to have lived in

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Westport for twenty-one years.

I have a lot of friends there. The moment was right. I will look back at COVID and remember we busted our butts for eight weeks and kept a lot of people employed.

It was a remarkable thing the four of us were able to pull off.

Impressive Stats Raised over $130,000 in eight weeks Served over 12,000 meals to healthcare workers and first responders in Fairfield County in eight weeks Contracted with forty restaurants/caterers, helping them stay in business Served Bridgeport, St. Vincent’s, Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich Hospitals, as well as first-responder units in Greenwich, Stamford, Trumbull, Danbury, Weston, Westport and Darien

WORDS OF PRAISE

Board member Juanita James raves about First County Bank’s response during the pandemic: “The staff worked around the clock to help complete applications, answer questions and get loans approved, when some banks weren’t even returning phone calls. They added staff to handle the additional volume so they could process as many loans as possible. For the second round, they anticipated the demand and went the extra mile. One employee was even prepared to come in at 12:01 a.m. to be ready as soon as the SBA portal reopened. larger banks and came to us. On the commercial side, we usually originate $100 million in loans in a year. It was a huge task to do the same amount in a few months.

There were new rules coming out daily. Everyone pitched in, making sure we were all safe and had all the PPE we needed. No employee contracted the virus from an internal source. This honor is for our employees and board of directors. I applaud them.

WHAT LESSONS DO YOU THINK WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME? Recognizing that we are all in this together. We are a community, whether restaurants, the bakery down the street, the pizza joint.

Perseverance is key. Being essential workers gave us a little privilege, but we were meant to be doing what we did. »

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE CUSTOMERS YOU HELPED? We are putting out ads with all the testimonials. We went out of the way to help them, and they’ve been ecstatic. Large banks couldn’t respond. With us, they could actually speak to a person and finalize a PPP loan, saving their businesses. We were also able to help nonprofits dramatically. That’s a testament to being a community bank.

The founders were not looking to raise a profit; they wanted a bank to help foster and build the community. We’ve continued to honor that.

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * SMALL-BUSINESS IMPACT *

ORGANIZATION

First County Bank

CAN YOU SHARE THE MOST MOVING EXPERIENCE DURING THIS TIME? I’m going to choke up, because I actually came down with the virus. I battled through it, but I had to go the hospital. Our team came together and stepped up, while I was off the phone for several days. We had built the foundation as a team together, and they followed through. Having COVID, being in the hospital—it was an emotional experience. I’m still emotional about it today.

BOB GRANATA, Executive Director

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN TERMS OF FIRST COUNTY BANK’S IMPACT DURING THIS PANDEMIC? The most striking thing is how our employees pulled together

as essential workers, helping out an immense number of people, setting up consumers with online banking and debit cards, helping them pay bills online. People left

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Impressive Stats Originated 1,150 Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling $125 million and protecting 10,000 jobs Donated 10,000 masks to Stamford and Norwalk hospitals Donated $10,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund Donated $8,000 to local shelters and food pantries Dedicated its annual Reyno A. Giallongo Jr. Award to frontline healthcare workers, with $5,000 donations each to Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, St. Vincent’s and Bridgeport hospitals

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER *

PJ JOHNS, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION

Filling in the Blanks TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT FILLING IN THE BLANKS AND HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED? Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer founded Filling in the Blanks to stamp out childhood hunger by providing meals to children in need on the weekends. I was their personal trainer, and we’ve been friends for over fifteen years. Whenever they’ve needed something, I’ve been available to them. I’ve helped out with backpacks for the holidays and putting together meal bags with Grace Community Church, where I’m a youth leader.

HOW HAVE THE NEEDS AND YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK RAMPED UP SINCE MARCH? The pandemic hit, and they called me to pick up meal bags and deliver them to churches. They were short staffed, so I stayed to help out. On March 23rd, I delivered 600 bags. I’ve been there ever since. Our group stayed small, with six of us working alongside each other for twenty-three weeks.

It used to be just Fridays, but I saw the need and said, “We have to do this Monday, Wednesday, Friday.”

Sometimes the town could only give one dinner to last two nights.

I said, “One night these kids can’t be fed. Can we bring meal bags?”

This is how Filling in the Blanks literally fills in the blanks. We also gave out boxes and boxes of detergent and grocery items.

WORDS OF PRAISE

For many who are frightened to leave their house due to the virus, volunteering is not an option. But not for PJ—he comes equipped with his backpack of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and his trademark black hat on backwards to go out and help the community,” says Filling in the Blanks cofounder Tina Kramer. “His smile lights up a room, and he treats those who need help with dignity and honor. This is a beautiful soul who is giving selflessly of himself in this critical time.

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE YOU SERVED? There were a lot of proud people who couldn’t afford to eat for the first time in their lives. We greeted everyone with a smile, learned their names, and took care in what we were doing. We weren’t just handing out food; we were offering hope and encouragement. Some people came in wrecked. We tried to meet

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each person’s needs. An elderly Russian woman, Antonella, loved mac-n-cheese. I bought her thirty boxes, and she teared up when I gave them to her, saying “Thank you and God bless you,” over and over in Russian. She would bring us trinkets—we knew it was her way of saying she wanted to give also. We made cupcakes for kids’ birthdays.

A mom told us, “You didn’t have to do this for my children. They will never forget it.” The community is forever changed. An act of kindness has a ripple effect for a long time.

LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS TIME? I have a greater appreciation for even the smallest of things: If I want to go to Starbucks or the supermarket, I can. When you go through something difficult, concentrate on others—that’s how I was raised. God is there for you and will take care of you and your family. This time has given us a chance to pause, get closer to our families and help our neighbors.

This was the most rewarding thing I could have done.

Impressive Stats PJ and his team of six handed out 147,459 meals, including 49,000 meal bags from Filling in the Blanks Volunteered on seventy days in a span of twenty-three weeks, for a total of 315 hours

WORDS OF PRAISE

During this difficult time, Women’s Mentoring Network realized that the WMN programs and services are needed now more than ever,” says board member Shirley Hu. “WMN is on the front lines of this pandemic, as it works with disadvantaged women who are seeking employment after losing their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION NEED TO PIVOT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT? We transferred all of our services over to the online platform. We are doing all of our workshops online and have more than doubled their frequency. We bring in professionals from the community—banks, companies, staffing agencies—to present to our clients. We have been helping the unemployed and underemployed for thirty years, but everything had to pivot: holding workshops two to three days a week, changing the focus to applying for unemployment and PPP loans, learning how to interview on Zoom. Our mentormentee program, which is thriving during this time, transitioned to virtual as well. Now is a good time for clients to reevaluate their situation and transform themselves. Any emails we send out now are more focused on getting our families through COVID. We are part of the Stamford Food Collaborative and Cradle to Career. We pivoted our United Way funding to a drivethrough food pantry.

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * WOMEN’S IMPACT *

HOW HAVE YOU HELPED YOUR CLIENTS STAY ON THEIR FEET AS THIS CRISIS EXACERBATED THEIR CHALLENGES? Our mission focuses on helping clients find employment and become economically secure, but we’ve pivoted toward education so they can make the most of their unemployment. Online and digital literacy have become so important. Also helping them find food resources and manage their budgets.

ORGANIZATION

Women’s Mentoring Network LANA GIFAS, Executive Director

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE FAMILIES YOU HAVE SERVED DURING THIS TIME? They are so grateful. Many of our clients are from immigrant families

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and may not have family or friends to talk to about their needs. They really look to us as a mentor to help them get through, especially now. We are just one piece of the puzzle, and we help connect them to everything they need to move forward in their lives.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS TIME? If you are focused and resilient, you will be able to move forward.

We had to do that and our clients need to as well. We have had women find jobs. But many don’t have computers and are applying for jobs from their phones. We have raised some funding to get kids computers for virtual school. When a student gets a computer, the family gets it.

People are so grateful for that. I still have a waiting list of over 100 who need computers. So many people coming out to donate and volunteer, communities coming together, the focus on diversity and inclusion with Black Lives Matter—these are very positive things in a time when it can be hard to stay positive. »

Impressive Stats Provided $37,000 in financial assistance to 175 families, enabling clients to eat and pay rent while awaiting stalled unemployment checks Provided over 250 individuals with support services to help find employment and manage finances Distributed over 100,000 pounds in food via a drive-through food pantry

2020 2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * COMMUNITY IMPACT *

ORGANIZATION

Neighbor to Neighbor MARGARET TJIMOS GOLDBERG, Executive Director YOU RECEIVED THE FIRST GRANT FROM GREENWICH UNITED WAY [GUW] IN THE PANDEMIC. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? When we all recognized the gravity of the situation, David Rabin [CEO, GUW] called me and asked, “Margaret, what do you need?”

That was a perfect example of trust and communication in the community. I’ll never forget that.

We then applied for another round of granting, which we received for continuing needs.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU HAVE USED THE FUNDING AND PARTNERED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? We had a summer program to provide for families with children, a supplement to what the school district was distributing. We worked with the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging, distributing groceries to 200 households each Friday.

Words can’t describe the effort with our community partners.

The impact has been remarkable.

Thanks to Kyle Silver and the town of Greenwich, we were able to move to the Arch Street Teen Center after the Christ Church campus closed.

That has been a godsend. We also have an internal focus, making sure staff and volunteers are taken care

of. It is very stressful. We are now looking at mid-2022 before we can even think about a hint of things stabilizing. How do we make sure there is nourishment all around, not just groceries but also health and well-being? It’s a delicate balance, but the work we are doing provides such a clarity of focus. It’s so energizing and inspiring.

HOW DID YOU FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED IN SUCH AN ISOLATING TIME? By communication and consistent messaging that is easily understandable, conveyed across various platforms. We’ve gotten a lot of attention in the newspapers and on social media. The TAG drivers know the individuals in the households, which creates connection. We have young families with newborns, with a growing need for diapers and formula. We connected on Facebook and were able to get them what they need.

I met face-to-face with a ninetyeight-year-old client today and made sure he got his food delivery.

When calls come into my office, I immediately provide people with my cell phone number, ensuring they know we are here for them. If we can’t provide what they need, we reach out to other agencies.

Impressive Stats WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS PANDEMIC? There is an awful lot that we just don’t know and a lot we don’t control. We have learned to walk together in confidence with our partners, staff and board, and find pathways to opportunities. We have to continue to move forward together. Don’t walk alone. Seek support with confidence and you’ll find a way. We’ve proven that many, many times already.

Committed food for 550 households weekly (and growing) Provide weekly snacks to 100 students Provide supplemental fruit to Meals on Wheels deliveries Completed the weekly Summer Supplement delivery to 225 households

WORDS OF PRAISE

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, NTN acted to prepare for an increase in families in need.

They realized early that this was a crisis situation,” says NTN donor Brooke Urban. “NTN began to establish or strengthen partnerships with Greenwich Teen Center (larger space), TAG (distribution to clients), Greenwich United Way, the Junior League of Greenwich, Jewish Family Services, churches, schools and many more organizations. fairfieldlivingmag.com

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WORDS OF PRAISE

Jeremy Nappi, Senior Director of Fund Development & Operations; Robert Moore, Director of Community Impact; David Rabin, CEO

Not only did the GUW raise and distribute the most impactful fund in town, the organization also served as a matchmaker—bringing together key stakeholder organizations and residents who wanted to help in different ways but didn’t know how to go about it, and connecting them with those who needed assistance that could not otherwise be found,” says Karen Hopp, longtime supporter and volunteer who now works on PR for the agency. the board about a COVID-19 relief fund. Even before that, we gave an emergency grant to Neighbor to Neighbor. One-third of Greenwich residents are already in need, and we knew the pandemic would exacerbate that. We acted quickly—that’s what we do. We know the community’s needs more than anyone. In December/January we will be coming out with a robust needs assessment, which we do every five years. We partnered with Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact. We created an online interactive map; you can click on an area of Greenwich and see what the needs are.

HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION PIVOT DURING THIS TIME? We started the relief fund.

We got the grant committee together weekly to handle grant applications and rapidly deploy funds. In the past, the CEOs of human services organizations in town met every four months.

We shifted to weekly calls and made scores of connections to address critical needs, such as food delivery of breakfast and lunch daily. Of the 9,000 children in Greenwich Public Schools, 20 percent are on free/reduced lunch.

We connected the superintendent with an organization that could deliver meals to these families. We made a connection for Greenwich Hospital for mask donations. We organized a book donation for Title 1 children. We acted as a fiduciary for Greenwich Comes Together, which was not a 501c3 yet.

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * NONPROFIT IMPACT * ORGANIZATION

Greenwich United Way DAVID RABIN, CEO WHEN DID YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE DEVASTATION AHEAD WITH THIS VIRUS? This crisis is exactly why we are here. The Greenwich United

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

Way was founded eighty-seven years ago during another crisis, the Great Depression. On March 15, my staff and I had a phone conference and then approached

We never skipped a beat. We raised almost $900,000 in three months and granted it quickly without compromising our

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process. With COVID grants, we request monthly reports on how the money is spent, so we can report back to donors to show they had the greatest outcome.

HOW DID THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS? Greenwich responded like Greenwich always does. We put out the clarion call, and it was answered rapidly. »

By the Numbers Spearheaded the Greenwich COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, which raised $900,000 (as of August) Issued twenty-one grants to the most vulnerable in the community (as of August) Delivered 5,200 meals through Caritas, 6,784 meals through Filling in the Blanks and provided funding for 57,204 meals supplied through Neighbor to Neighbor Provided Zoom calls to 360 families through River House during the first month of the crisis Gave $400 each to 125 individuals to meet basic needs through Family Centers Provided 549 teen talk counseling sessions through Kids in Crisis Paid for 250 meals for frontline workers through Nathaniel Witherell

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD

* OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS *

DAVE KUBAN, Owner ORGANIZATION

Planet Pizza, Norwalk HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS ADAPT DURING THIS PANDEMIC? We are in a high corporate area, so we lost those patrons and our rent is high. We adjusted our prices to a little above cost, so we could keep doing high volume.

Everybody likes the doctors, nurses, police, so we started asking for donations and sending pizzas out to them. Melissa and Doug donated. Lemberg Law would donate $200 or $300 a day. We’d write a message from Lemberg Law on the pizza box, and the nurses would write and thank Sergei Lemberg directly. It took off. Crossfire Motorcycle Club bought 500 sandwiches, chips and waters—for $6 not our usual $11— and personally delivered them by motorcycle to Norwalk Hospital.

I’m involved with the community on a normal basis, so this was easy for me. I grew up in Norwalk, with no money. Now I try to give back what I can.

HOW DID YOU HELP FAMILIES IN THE AREA? We raised $9,000 to provide food for kids and worked closely with guidance counselors to get healthy meals—grilled chicken,

broccoli, rice—to families. Rice is not on our menu, but we were buying six or seven fifty-pound bags a week. Someone asked for bologna; I don’t sell it but I wasn’t going to turn anyone down! I sent my driver for some. Matt Corey, who teaches lacrosse in Norwalk, donated $2,000 out of his own pocket, and we gave families Planet Pizza gift cards for wellrounded meals, including protein, veggies, milk and juice. With Malta House and social services, we delivered hand sanitizer, paper towels—anything to keep kids from getting sick.

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE YOU SERVED?

Impressive Stats

So many people called to thank us, crying—saying that was the only food they had for the week.

I felt so bad, I started dropping off $50 gift cards. I told my wife at night, “I don’t feel right sitting down and eating dinner.”

and fed all the homeless under the bridge. Then we fed all the homeless by the bridge in South Norwalk, then at Stratford’s Home Depot, and then by the train station in Bridgeport. One lady there had six kids with her, living in a tent. I gave her the money in my pocket. They were charging the food truck; they were so appreciative.

MOST MOVING EXPERIENCE? M2 Tactical gun shop and Saugatuck Financial each donated $2,000. We made 450 bagged lunches, took my food truck, drove over to Exit 6 in Stamford

Raised $27,000 for hospital employees over three-anda-half months Raised $9,000 to donate meals to families once schools closed Served 450 meals to the homeless

WORDS OF PRAISE

Dave raised money to feed hospital employees over and over,” Cristy Gonzales, a teacher who works with lowincome kids, says of owner Dave Kuban. “He has his guys delivering meals to needy kids for free, then he tips his drivers himself. He has been sending food to everyone who is taking care of our community—store employees, postal workers, nurses, doctors—and keeping his employees working. When schools closed, I panicked thinking about how many kids would go unfed each day. I called Dave and he stepped up! He is now feeding so many that I’ve lost count. fairfieldlivingmag.com

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2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * BEST FRIEND TO CHILDREN *

ORGANIZATION

Children’s Learning Centers

MARC JAFFE, Chief Executive Officer HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION AND TAKE ACTION WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT? My team is really dedicated and mission driven. We knew the Greenwich/Stamford area was going to be overwhelmed by COVID. We have a long-standing relationship with Stamford Hospital; it’s the largest employer of our families. When the Project 26 program was announced, the OEC (Connecticut Office of Early Childhood) approached us and our response was: “Whatever it takes.”

We were fortunate that we had a core team who demonstrated real courage and commitment and raised their hands.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS TIME MAKE YOU MOST PROUD?

closed, we almost immediately pivoted to remote learning, serving 940 children at home. These are younger kids who can’t read yet, don’t have technology, and whose parents are often non-English speakers. Philosophically we don’t believe in having children on screens, but we realized staying connected to the children, and engaging with the parents was really important. Our family engagement increased tenfold.

We have committed to building a robust remote learning platform for pre-K, which doesn’t really exist.

Certainly Project 26. We ran a program for eight weeks and managed to do it without any children or staff getting sick.

The healthcare workers deeply appreciated knowing their children were cared for and happy—you could see that in the faces of the children. We’re now serving 380 children in our seven sites. That also means 500 parents are going to work, so we are supporting the community and getting the economy back on its feet. We learned in running Project 26 how to mitigate risk, enabling us to reopen quickly. Also when we

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2021 AS WE FACE THE UNKNOWNS OF THIS VIRUS? Having our robust remote learning platform in place.

Hopefully it becomes a model for the state, maybe the nation. Have as many children at our sites as we can safely accommodate.

Continue to support not only our children and families, but our staff and team members, who are under a fair amount of stress. And to be cognizant of the challenges around race and equity as revealed by the George Floyd incident and respond to those challenges. Our staff is 85 percent female, 95 percent minority. »

WORDS OF PRAISE

Many CLC families were disproportionately impacted by the economic ravages of the virus,” explains Sue Bodson, who nominated CLC. “Food insecurity and unmet basic needs were very common problems, and CLC demonstrated how an organization leans in and shows up despite never-beforeseen challenges.” Sue, along with Bobbi Eggers, was planning CLC’s annual benefit when the pandemic hit. They quickly pivoted to a virtual Instagram party—over 600 participants attended, and the event raised $113,000.

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Impressive Stats Through Project 26, CLC offered childcare to Stamford Hospital healthcare workers for eight weeks in the heart of the pandemic. No child or staff member contracted COVID-19.

Safely opened seven of CLC’s eight locations by the end of June, enabling 500 parents to get back to work Distributed 9,000 diapers through Greenwich’s Mothers for Others (ongoing effort) Distributed over 200 meals through Filling in the Blanks in Norwalk Organized a 1,000-volume book drive with Westhill Angels

Save Lives.

Build Healthier Futures.

Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential.

Learn more about our work at americares.org @americares

2020 Light A Fire

AWARD * OUTSTANDING

LEADERSHIP *

ORGANIZATION

Food Rescue US DANIELLE BLAINE, Site Director

WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO ADAPT TO THE RAPIDLY GROWING NEEDS WHEN THIS PANDEMIC HIT? We usually use our app to communicate between food donors, volunteers and our social service agencies who receive the food. When the pandemic hit, so many agencies and grocery stores closed or changed hours that our app schedule could not reflect the rapid changes. I quickly emailed all of our volunteers and asked who would be able to help at a moment’s notice to move food to people who need it most. I received about 200 responses from volunteers, and we moved our system to fast-paced texting for March and April. The volunteers were incredible. We also launched three new initiatives: our community kitchen program, restaurant meal program and farm distribution program.

WHAT WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF YOUR EFFORTS? We experienced an unbelievable outpouring of goodwill from volunteers giving their time and companies and individuals providing grants to sponsor our meal programs to our local agencies, helping our local restaurants in the process—a real win-win for all.

ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF DURING THIS TIME? Building stronger communities through our volunteers and grocery, restaurant, school and hospital donors, and reaching deeper into the community to find individuals who are not being helped or need more help. When our volunteers reached out to help neighbors in need, it brought the whole community up. One of our agencies said, “The people felt respected and cared about when they saw these beautifully packaged meals coming from our local restaurants and community kitchens.”

Impressive Stats Provided over 840,000 meals (as of August) to the food insecure since the start of the pandemic

WHAT LESSONS DO YOU THINK WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME? A pandemic can turn things upside down in a moment.

Our agencies saw a doubling or tripling of people in line for food—many of them for the first time and many in tears. It could happen to anyone, and by building a stronger community of volunteers we can pivot to help anyone in Fairfield County in more ways than before. We experienced this with the weeklong power outage. We were so ready to jump in and take immediate action to help the stores and agencies get back on their feet quickly. Our

volunteers went to restaurants at a moment’s notice to get food that was going to spoil and take it to people who needed it. Through the pandemic, we have learned to come together as a team and community. The next time it could be us in line for the first time, and I think that has really made people think about equity and helping all people who are economically disadvantaged. F

WORDS OF PRAISE

Food Rescue was a key partner who helped us to develop a sustainable food system to feed hundreds of families during this COVID pandemic,” says Deborah Sims, Executive Director of East End NRZ Popup Market & Cafe.

“They provided us with high quality fresh fruits, vegetables and meals, which was essential to our families that faced daily struggles in dealing with hunger.

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Kept over 1 million pounds of food out of landfill Grew its team to 1,268 food rescuers (from 1,000 on March 1) Launched five Restaurant Meal Programs, helping more than twenty restaurants stay in business Launched three Community Kitchens— reopening restaurants, hiring back staff and making healthy chef-prepared meals for the food insecure Launched a Farm Distribution Program, recovering excess food from farms

A N T I Q UA R I U S

GREENWICH WINTER ANTIQUES & DESIGN SHOW

DECEMBER 2–4, 2020

Presented online by InCollect

TOGETHER AT HOME

The Greenwich Historical Society’s premier annual fundraiser celebrating design, decorative arts, architecture and landscapes, presented in a new content–rich virtual format.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW greenwichhistory.org/antiquarius All the best of Antiquarius- online- with engaging virtual panels and workshops featuring top local designers.

Plus, daily email content celebrating Greenwich retailers, entertainers & designers, a special festive gingerbread kit, our annual Festival of Tabletop Trees and candlelit Bush-Holley House tours.

HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR

Celebrating the work of designers Patrick Mele, Charlotte Barnes, and Heather Georges

DESIGNER PANEL

Presented by Douglas VanderHorn Architects

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING WORKSHOP

With decorating & entertaining guru Eddie Ross

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

Curated local and popup boutiques for festive shopping

12 th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 22 Hosted by

SAM BRIDGE NURSERY & GREENHOUSES

437 North Street, Greenwich Monday–Saturday; 8:30am–5pm

Virtual Greenwich Holiday Stroll DECEMBER 1–24 Featuring

OVER 100 MERCHANTS THROUGHOUT

Greenwich, Village of Old Greenwich, Byram, Glenville, Cos Cob, Riverside

Reindeer Festival Hosted By

Reindeer Stable Sponsor

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G r e e n w i c h r e i n d e e r F e s t i va l . c o m fairfieldlivingmag.com

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advertisers index ART & ANTIQUES

EVENTS

NONPROFIT

Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture........... 8

Greenwich Reindeer Festival............. 62

AmeriCares...........................................60

Light A Fire................................................. 11

Boys & Girls Village ...............................31

AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield...Cover 3 BUSINESS & FINANCE

Breast Cancer Alliance.........................38 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Flipside Burgers & Bar....................... 9 Winvian................................................ 1

Castle Connolly................................... 9 Cummings & Lockwood LLC.............. 6 UBS Financial Services Inc./The Shantz Mantione Group...........Cover 2

HEALTH & BEAUTY Benchmark Senior Living................... 5 Castle Connolly................................... 9 Hospital for Special Surgery... Cover 4

EDUCATION & CHILDREN Fairfield University/Quick Center..... 12

JEWELRY Henry C. Reid....................................... 3

EVENTS

Greenwich Historical Society...............62 Kids in Crisis...........................................17 United Way............................................... 6 PETS Earth Animal...........................................15 PHOTOGRAPHY Bob Capazzo Photography..................63 MISCELLANEOUS

Alist.............................................................. 7

NONPROFIT

Fairfield Weddings...............................15

Adopt A Dog...........................................38

Ownership Statement Fairfield Living Magazine U.S. Postal Service. Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (Requester Publications Only). 1. Publication Title: Fairfield Living. 2. Publication No.: 012-002. 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2020. 4. Issue Frequency: 6 times.

5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 6. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $0.00 requires request documentation. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Jonathan Moffly, Publisher, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Diane Sembrot, Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Diane Sembrot, Managing Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. 10. Owner: Moffly Media. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. For Completion by Nonprofit Organizations Authorized to Mail at Special Rates: Not applicable to Fairfield Living Magazine.

13. Publication Title: Fairfield Living. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September/ October 2020. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): *6,048 **5,063; b(1). Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscription Stated on Form 3541: *511**414; b(2). Paid/Requested In-County Subscriptions: *2,828 **2,295; b(3). Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: *228 **130; b(4). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: *0 **0; c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), (4): *3,567 **2,839; d. Free Distribution

by Mail (Samples, Complimentary, and Other Free): d(1). Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: *0 **0; d(2). In-County as Stated on Form 3541: *584 **569; d(3). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS *0 **0; d(4). Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means): *1,268 **905; e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), (4): *1,852 **1,474; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): *5,419 **4,313; g. Copies Not Distributed: *629 **750; h. Total (Sum of 15f, 15g): *6,048 **5,063; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f. times 100): *65.8 percent **65.8 percent. 17. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the November/December 2020 issue of this Publication. 18. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on this form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including multiple damages and civil penalties). Elena V. Moffly, Business Manager/Treasurer, October 1, 2020. *Average No. Copies Each Issue During Proceeding 12 Months. **Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date.

Westy Self Storage.............................31

BOB CAPAZZO PHOTOGRAPHY (203) 273-0139

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 FAIRFIELD LIVING FFLD 2020 Statement Ownership.indd 1

Elephant Santuary.............................31

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10/14/20 1:52 PM

postscript

NOV/DEC 2020 / DONNA MOFFLY

I

“Don’t worry about it,” Jack told me in the bar where I had headed for another drink.

“Every Senator needs someone like you.”

t’s November, the month of political triumph or defeat preceded by weeks of annoying e-mails and robot calls. And it always reminds me of the memorable politicians I’ve met over the years.

Well, the first one I didn’t actually meet, and he was just a general in 1943. Ike was in Cleveland, waving to the crowds on Euclid Avenue from the back of my father’s yellow Cadillac convertible while my brothers and I threw confetti out the window of the Statler Hotel. Later, he’d become our 34th President.

Other major players I’ve met up-close and personal—like President George H. W. Bush in 1989. Through Joseph Verner Reed, Chief of Protocol, I was invited for coffee at the White House after the state dinner for the President of Italy and got a big laugh when I offered: “You know, Mr. President, the last time I saw you, I was on stage and you were in the audience!” I reminded him that as Ambassador to the U.N., he’d attended a Grace Notes concert at the Old Greenwich Civic Center on U.N. Day. We sang “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, and Libby Flinn went down into the audience and sat on his lap.

Then there was the “very informal” invitation from our neighbors Polly and Hugo Koehler to come for a drink after tennis to meet Hugo’s brother. So there, still in our whites, we were introduced to a gent whose first name I heard as “Clayton.” Clayton Koehler, right? When I asked him what he did, he said “nothing” and turned away. Oops! In the kitchen, Polly explained: He was Hugo’s half-brother. Claiborne was his first name and Pell his last, because their mother had married twice. He was the Senator from Rhode Island currently on the cover of TIME magazine.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Jack told me in the bar where I’d headed for another drink. “Every Senator needs someone like you.” fairfieldlivingmag.com

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Apparently, I felt that Michael Fedele needed me, too, when he ran for Governor in the 2010 Republican primary. At an Eagle Scout dinner, I offered him some motherly advice. He’d used the word “clearly” about eighteen times in one radio broadcast. “You make listeners feel that if they don’t agree with you, they’re idiots.”

Surprisingly, he almost abandoned the word thereafter. Fedele lost, but clearly I’d tried.

During the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York, Jack and I attended a Republican Majority for Choice event at the top of the Met-Life building. It drew the likes of Bill Weld, former Governor of Massachusetts, who spoke eloquently about women’s rights.

Standing by the front desk, my husband saw a new arrival make an obvious pass at the receptionist. It was Tommy Thompson, “W’s” anti-choice Secretary of Health, who’d crashed the party. Afterwards, Jack was telling me about it in the elevator, when the only other occupant, an attractive young lady of the press, interjected: “Oh, yah. He’s known for that. We call him ‘Tommy Touch-Tone.’ ” Then there was the first time I met Chris Murphy—at the Selbys’ house in Old Greenwich in 2012 when he was running for the U.S. Senate. I asked him if he was pro-choice; it wasn’t on his website. Absolutely, said he. So I suggested he get it up there fast.

His wife was on the board of NARAL. Chris would become the youngest Senator in the 113th Congress and one of my favorite politicos, along with Chris Shays, who Jack and I took sailing on Purple Tiger during his final run for Congress. Blue skies. Blue water.

Sunshine. No phones. Totally relaxed.

It’s a rough business—politics. Not for the faint of heart. And money can’t buy experience, integrity or humanity. Election Day is our big chance to vote in the best people for the job.

VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT

OF POLITICOS & CROSSING PATHS

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Vehicle shown: 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 with optional equipment. *Price shown is Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for 2020, Land Rover, Defender 110 Standard. Excludes $1,025 destination/ handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. See your participating Land Rover Retailer for complete details, visit LANDROVERUSA.COM or call 1-800-FIND-4WD / 1-800-346-3493. © 2020 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC