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Greenwich - November 2026

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WILD AT HEART Behind Greenwich’s protected open spaces

Guiding Lights

Meet the local changemakers putting purpose into practice { Evan Dunne

{ Alex Pettee

Inna { Dr. Lazar

Tom Tamberrino {

{ Kaile Zagger Peter Eder {

{

{ Leigh Kennedy

{

Kendall Webb

{

Audrey Lam-Danback

Roberta "BOBBY" Anderson

NOVEMBER 2026 $6.95

ARTFUL ESCAPE

A trip to Winvian’s artist cottage

WRAPPED IN COLOR

Holiday gifts in every hue

PLUS

A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

The estate-planning moves to protect your family and your legacy


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M W

GREENWICH

contents vol. 79 | issue 9

departments

NOVEMBER 2026

14 EDITOR’S LETTER 16 FOUNDER’S LETTER Of Food and Lessons Learned

19 STATUS REPORT BUZZ DeCicco & Sons opens

in Glenville; Vivienne C. Finn Foundation’s work helps families navigate childhood cancer SHOP Holiday gifts in the season’s hottest hues GO An escape to Winvian in Litchfield County HOME RH Estates opens on Greenwich Avenue; Contrast piping lends a crisp, tailored finish; Dirty martini-inspired finds DO Navigating life as the Sandwich Generation; What to know about orthodontics for every age

54 MONEY MATTERS How to raise money-savvy kids

56 G-MOM Thinking of writing your own memoir? We have tips and local resources to help craft your own story; Turkey trots, floral workshops, giant balloons and more: family-friendly fun in and around Greenwich this month

61 PEOPLE & PLACES Breast Cancer Alliance; Greenwich Historical Society; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

68 VOWS Huth—Keefe

97 CALENDAR 107 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 108 POSTSCRIPT Holiday lights shine on Greenwich Avenue

features

82

Life rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Local legal experts offer advice on the estate-planning decisions that can protect your family, your wealth and the future you’ve built. PAGE 89

70

82

INSPIRING CHANGE

THESE PROMISED LANDS

In a season that asks us to look beyond ourselves, our Light a Fire Awards shine a light on the people doing just that—quietly, generously and with a drive to make their communities better.

How some of Greenwich’s most valuable real estate came to be preserved as meadows, woods, streams and trails for residents to enjoy now—and for generations to come.

b y j il l john s on m a n n

b y t om c on nor

cover photography by katharine calderwood seating courtesy of object refinery, Stamford GREENWICH MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2026, VOL. 79, NO. 9. GREENWICH MAGAZINE (USPS 961-500/ISSN 1072-2432) is published ten times a year 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 GREENWICH MAGAZINE PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607.

PHOTO: THE GREENWICH DRONE, COURTESY OF GREENWICH LAND TRUST

PLUS: QUIET DECISIONS

Co We

greenwichmag.com

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CT037 Gre


MORE ROOM FOR WHAT MATTERS

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WE REPRESENT RELATIONSHIPS We are an independent family business, not Wall Street firm. With the freedom to put our clients first, always.

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William Raveis. The highest standard in real estate. Who represents you matters.

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GREENWICHMAG.com CELEBRATING THE BEST OF WHERE WE LIVE

VENETIAN PRINCESS Carnival

digital content & MORE

november 2026

LET’S BE FRIENDS! Show us your love, and us on social!

Find out about store openings, see what’s coming up in the magazine, and enjoy photos of iconic places around the area— follow us on Instagram. Together, we make living here the best!

JUMP ONLINE

ENJOY OUR ARTICLES AND POSTS ON THE PEOPLE AND PLACES HELPING US ALL LIVE BETTER

Visit our directories for resources

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@GREENWICHMAG

FOLLOW US ON:

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WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD?

GREENWICH L I F E T O L I F E S T Y L E S I N C E 1 94 7 vol. 79 | no. 9 | november 2026 editorial editor

Megan Gagnon–megan.gagnon@moffly.com social editor

Alison Nichols Gray–ali.gray@moffly.com founding editor

Donna Moffly–donna@moffly.com contributing editors

Elizabeth Hole–editor, custom publishing Eileen Murphy–editor, new canaan • darien Samantha Yanks–editor, westport copy editors

Dave Johnstone, David Podgurski contributing writers

Liz Barron, Eileen Bartels, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick, Mary Kate Hogan, Layla Lisiewski, Jill Johnson Mann, Georgette Yacoub senior editorial advisor

Cristin Marandino editorial advisory board

Susan Bevan, Susan Moretti Bodson, Alyssa Keleshian Bonomo, Bobbi Eggers, Kim-Marie Evans, Muffy Fox, Lisa Lori, Jessica Mindich

art senior art director

Venera Alexandrova–venera.alexandrova@moffly.com production director

Tim Carr–tim.carr@moffly.com assistant art director

Lisa Servidio–lisa.servidio@moffly.com

digital media digital marketing manager

Rachel MacDonald–rachel.macdonald@moffly.com digital assistant

Lloyd Gabi–lloyd.gabi@moffly.com digital assistant

Jeffery Garay–jeffery.garay@moffly.com

marketing executive marketing director

Kristina Herman–kristina.herman@moffly.com Calendar@Moffly.com Editor@GreenwichMag.com Weddings@GreenwichMag.com

TO SUBSCRIBE, renew or change your address, please email us subscribe@greenwichmag.com, call 203-869-0009, or write to GREENWICH magazine, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. U.S. subscription rates: $29/1 year, $48/2 years, $65/3 years; Canada and Foreign, U.S. $69/year. Prices are subject to change without notice.

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GREENWICH magazine® is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media. © 2026 Moffly Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher, except as permitted by law. The opinions expressed by writers commissioned for articles published are not necessarily those of the magazine.

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CELEBRATING

YEARS IN WESTPORT

For three decades, Lux Bond & Green has been proud to build lasting relationships and celebrate life’s magical moments with the Westport community. As natural diamond experts, jewelers, watch specialists, and service professionals, our expertise and personal service have become part of the fabric of Westport. Now in our 128th year as a family business led by the fifth generation, we are grateful to celebrate 30 years in Westport. Visit us in-store as we toast this milestone with special celebrations to come.

Where Every Box Has a Story™

136 MAIN STREET WESTPORT 203.227.1300 SHOP ONLINE AT LBGREEN.COM | FOLLOW US @LUXBONDGREEN

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GREENWICH L I F E T O L I F E S T Y L E S I N C E 1 94 7 vol. 79 | no. 9 | november 2026 publisher

Jonathan Moffly jonathan@moffly.com

Get Your Photo Published! We are looking for fantastic photos of Greenwich and Greenwich people to feature every month on our new back page. If you would like a chance to be published in GREENWICH magazine and win $100 here’s what you should know: • Photos can be whimsical, historical, serene, funny or beautiful but they all must be taken in Greenwich. • Photos must be submitted digitally to editor@mofflymedia.com and be 300 dpi and 7 inches high or larger. • We will need: Photographer’s name, address, phone number and e-mail Subject of the photograph (identify people in the photo) Location of the photograph Inspiration behind the photograph Any interesting anecdote about the photograph or featured subject

We can’t wait to see your view of Greenwich!

associate publisher Kathleen Godbold Dyke kathleen.dyke@moffly.com

sales & marketing Gina Fusco publisher; new canaan•darien & rowayton gina.fusco@moffly.com

Gabriella Mays publisher; westport•weston•wilton gabriella.mays@moffly.com Liz Norfleet account executive liz.norfleet@moffly.com Morgan Howell account executive morgan.howell@moffly.com Brynn John partnership, big picture & operations manager brynn.john@moffly.com Lemuel Bandala sales assistant lemuel.bandala@moffly.com

F f s b a

Eillenn Bandala executive assistant eillenn.bandala@moffly.com

A m o T business

T s g t

president

Jonathan W. Moffly editorial director

Cristin Marandino business manager

T I g

Elena Moffly elena@moffly.com cofounders

John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly

T A

PUBLISHERS OF GREENWICH, NEW CANAAN • DARIEN • ROWAYTON, WESTPORT, STAMFORD and athome magazines 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880 phone: 203-222-0600 mail@moffly.com

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The team they built. The legacy they continue. Some milestones are measured in years. Others are measured in relationships. For thirty years, Tom Mantione and Andrew Shantz have had the privilege of serving families through life’s defining moments. Along the way, they learned that lasting success is built on trust, perspective, and relationships. What began with a simple belief, that meaningful advice starts with meaningful relationships, has grown into a community of clients, families, and friendships that spans generations. As they reflect on this milestone, they are most grateful for the people who made it meaningful. The trust placed in them. The conversations shared over decades. The opportunity to guide families through moments of change, opportunity, and growth. Those relationships have shaped everything they have built. Today, this anniversary celebrates more than a partnership. It celebrates the team surrounding families today, carrying forward the same commitment to thoughtful guidance and multigenerational continuity. Built over three decades, that team reflects the values, experience, and care that have defined the practice from the beginning. Their mission remains as relevant today as it was thirty years ago: Improving lives through enduring relationships. It is a promise that continues to guide the team, the families they serve, and the generations that follow. Thirty years. Three generations. One legacy. And the next chapter is just beginning.

Thomas Mantione, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA® Private Wealth Advisor Managing Director–Wealth Management thomas.mantione@ubs.com Andrew Shantz, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA® Private Wealth Advisor Managing Director–Wealth Management andrew.shantz@ubs.com The Shantz Mantione Group UBS Financial Services Inc. Private Wealth Management 600 Washington Boulevard, Ninth Floor Stamford, CT 06901 601 21st Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 203-705-4222 866-860-7266

advisors.ubs.com/shantzmantione

This is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that you understand the ways in which we conduct business, and that you carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to you about the products or services we offer. For more information, please review the client relationship summary provided at ubs.com/relationshipsummary, or ask your UBS Financial Advisor for a copy. For designation disclosures, visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the US. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. doing business as Investments & Wealth Institute® in the United States of America and worldwide. Private Wealth Management is a segment within UBS Financial Services Inc., which is a subsidiary of UBS Group AG. © UBS 2026. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS Group AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. RO-5978963-1001

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editor’s letter

NOVEMBER 2026 / MEGAN GAGNON

HERE TO HELP B

SCAN TO EXPLORE OUR DIGITAL SIDE

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

eing part of the Sandwich Generation can feel like an impossible juggling act (ask me how I know): balancing parent-teacher conferences and conference calls with my parents’ doctors, keeping up with my kids’ schedules while helping my parents navigate a new stage of life. There’s barely time to get through today, let alone plan for tomorrow. Sometimes, you just need someone who’s been there before—someone to point you toward a plan, share what they wish they’d known or remind you that you’re not figuring it all out alone. Fortunately, Georgette Yacoub has gathered local resources and advice to help navigate the road ahead (page 48). The older I get, the more I appreciate how much we rely on one another—not just for the big things, but for the advice, introductions, encouragement and small acts of kindness that make life a little easier. Community is really just people willing to show up for each other. Our Light a Fire honorees (page 70) embody that spirit in so many different ways. They are advocates, volunteers, mentors, caregivers and, in some cases, people who saw a problem and decided

to do something about it. Their stories are a powerful reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes it starts with one person asking, What can I do? That question feels especially fitting this time of year, when we’re reminded to look beyond our own front doors and think about what we can give. And giving doesn’t always mean writing a check. It can mean mentoring a young person, caring for a neighbor, advocating for a cause, opening a door for someone else or giving your time to something you believe in. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can offer is what you already have: your experience, your time or your willingness to show up. I hope you’ll find something in these pages that helps, inspires or connects you to your own community—and maybe reminds you that you have something to give, too.

greenwichmag.com

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VHA-Gree


founder’s page

NOVEMBER 2026 / DONNA MOFFLY

T

Suddenly he announced: “Hey, Mommy, I’ve got a candy up my nose!”

he holidays are upon us, making me contemplate what I’ve learned from food. You heard me right—from food, not about food. For instance: Lemon Chiffon Pie — At age three, I was seated at the dinner table beside my grandfather who was visiting from New York. “Oh, my,” said Papa Rudy. “This pie is so good I’d like to take a piece home in my pocket to Gammy.” So, I quietly obliged him, which he didn’t discover until his train pulled into Grand Central the next morning. He had to go home to Bronxville to change his clothes, making him late for an important business meeting. Lesson learned: Don’t take people literally. Blueberries — At Camp Wabasso in New Hampshire you could pick wild blueberries, take them to the kitchen, and the cook would whip up a pie for your table that night. Lesson learned: How to get popular fast. Lobster — Jane and Tom Yates always treated their guests to a lobster picnic on the rocky beach in Owl’s Head, Maine. The lobsters were cooked in a huge pot on a pile of logs while we sipped our beer and awaited the time we could crack them open with stones and dig in with our fingers. No utensils allowed. Lesson learned: How to rough it in style. Button Candy — One Christmas Eve morning I was sitting at the kitchen table making a pine cone wreath across from little Jonathan, who was quietly picking the button candy off the paper. Suddenly he announced: “Hey, Mommy, I’ve got a candy up my nose!” He had taken his little pinkie and wiggled it up there. I called the pediatrician. “Can’t we just let it melt?” “Yes,” said Bob Wheeler, “but by that time, he’d have a roaring sinus infection.” It ended with the good doctor pushing an intrument up the kid’s nostril so the candy went deep enough to swallow. Lesson learned: Keep a closer eye on small fry.

Hungarian Goulash — Jack and I were hosting a buffet dinner one summer. As the hostess, I served myself last and carried my plate out onto the terrace, where I saw one empty chair. Some thoughtful person had left me a seat? Wrong. I sat down on a plate of goulash. Sandy Sulger was saving it for himself while he went to the head. I jumped up, noodles hanging off the back of my hostess skirt and, gathering it up behind me, rushed upstairs to change. Meanwhile Sandy said to Jack, “Oh, well, I’ll just put some more sauce on top!” Lesson learned: Watch where you sit down. Baked Alaska — As teenagers, my brother and I had a night on our own in Berlin in 1954. Our parents’ friends were in the military and had to take the train across East Germany to Frankfurt, so the Russians could keep an eye on them. But Mike and I would fly to meet them there the next day. Promising not to leave the hotel, we went down to the dining room and ordered what would become our famous All White Dinner—gin and tonics, marinated herring with sour cream, onions and apples, and a Baked Alaska the size of a loaf of bread, which we split right down the middle. Nothing ever tasted as good. Lesson learned: Do things your own way. Brussels Sprouts — My brothers and I were taught to eat everything we put on our plates, so I helped myself to a huge mound of those cute little green balls and my father made me eat every single one. I threw up. But after marrying Jack, I decided I was a big girl now and started serving him Brussels sprouts. Little did I know that 50 years later he’d ask me: “Why are you always serving me Brussels Sprouts? I hate Brussels sprouts!” Lesson learned: It’s never too late to learn. Amen to that. G

VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT

OF FOOD AND LESSONS LEARNED

greenwichmag.com

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CONSTELLATION BAND RING, $19,500 • TAORMINA HOOP EARCLIPS, $25,000 • MALTESE CROSS STONE CUFF, $64,500

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GREENWICH, CT

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VANDERHORNARCHITECTS.COM

TEL. 203.622.7000

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founder’s page

NOVEMBER 2026 / DONNA MOFFLY

T

Suddenly he announced: “Hey, Mommy, I’ve got a candy up my nose!”

he holidays are upon us, making me contemplate what I’ve learned from food. You heard me right—from food, not about food. For instance: Lemon Chiffon Pie — At age three, I was seated at the dinner table beside my grandfather who was visiting from New York. “Oh, my,” said Papa Rudy. “This pie is so good I’d like to take a piece home in my pocket to Gammy.” So, I quietly obliged him, which he didn’t discover until his train pulled into Grand Central the next morning. He had to go home to Bronxville to change his clothes, making him late for an important business meeting. Lesson learned: Don’t take people literally. Blueberries — At Camp Wabasso in New Hampshire you could pick wild blueberries, take them to the kitchen, and the cook would whip up a pie for your table that night. Lesson learned: How to get popular fast. Lobster — Jane and Tom Yates always treated their guests to a lobster picnic on the rocky beach in Owl’s Head, Maine. The lobsters were cooked in a huge pot on a pile of logs while we sipped our beer and awaited the time we could crack them open with stones and dig in with our fingers. No utensils allowed. Lesson learned: How to rough it in style. Button Candy — One Christmas Eve morning I was sitting at the kitchen table making a pine cone wreath across from little Jonathan, who was quietly picking the button candy off the paper. Suddenly he announced: “Hey, Mommy, I’ve got a candy up my nose!” He had taken his little pinkie and wiggled it up there. I called the pediatrician. “Can’t we just let it melt?” “Yes,” said Bob Wheeler, “but by that time, he’d have a roaring sinus infection.” It ended with the good doctor pushing an intrument up the kid’s nostril so the candy went deep enough to swallow. Lesson learned: Keep a closer eye on small fry.

Hungarian Goulash — Jack and I were hosting a buffet dinner one summer. As the hostess, I served myself last and carried my plate out onto the terrace, where I saw one empty chair. Some thoughtful person had left me a seat? Wrong. I sat down on a plate of goulash. Sandy Sulger was saving it for himself while he went to the head. I jumped up, noodles hanging off the back of my hostess skirt and, gathering it up behind me, rushed upstairs to change. Meanwhile Sandy said to Jack, “Oh, well, I’ll just put some more sauce on top!” Lesson learned: Watch where you sit down. Baked Alaska — As teenagers, my brother and I had a night on our own in Berlin in 1954. Our parents’ friends were in the military and had to take the train across East Germany to Frankfurt, so the Russians could keep an eye on them. But Mike and I would fly to meet them there the next day. Promising not to leave the hotel, we went down to the dining room and ordered what would become our famous All White Dinner—gin and tonics, marinated herring with sour cream, onions and apples, and a Baked Alaska the size of a loaf of bread, which we split right down the middle. Nothing ever tasted as good. Lesson learned: Do things your own way. Brussels Sprouts — My brothers and I were taught to eat everything we put on our plates, so I helped myself to a huge mound of those cute little green balls and my father made me eat every single one. I threw up. But after marrying Jack, I decided I was a big girl now and started serving him Brussels sprouts. Little did I know that 50 years later he’d ask me: “Why are you always serving me Brussels Sprouts? I hate Brussels sprouts!” Lesson learned: It’s never too late to learn. Amen to that. G

VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT

OF FOOD AND LESSONS LEARNED

greenwichmag.com

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CONSTELLATION BAND RING, $19,500 • TAORMINA HOOP EARCLIPS, $25,000 • MALTESE CROSS STONE CUFF, $64,500

W W W.VERDURA.COM

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GREENWICH

HARBOR POINT

FAIRFIELD

Greenwich’s First Boutique Dermatology Practice, Now Home to

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11:45 AM

buzz STATUS REPORT

ATTENTION

SHOPPERS DeCICCO & SONS OPENS its first Connecticut location, just in time for holiday entertaining

PHOTOS: VENERA ALEXANDROVA (TOP); COURTESY OF DECICCO & SONS

T

here’s a new reason to make the trip to Glenville. DeCicco & Sons, the family-owned grocer with a devoted following across New York, has opened its first Connecticut location at 21 Glenville Street, bringing its mix of specialty groceries, prepared foods and old-fashioned service to Greenwich. Taking over the former Stop & Shop space, the 20,000-square-foot market is part specialty grocery store, part prepared-food fantasy. Come for milk and leave contemplating whether you really need to make dinner tonight. The timing is particularly good for anyone staring down a calendar full of holiday entertaining. The catering and prepared-food departments are loaded with shortcuts: honeybrined turkey, prime rib dinners and enough delicious sides to make a holiday spread look like you spent all day in the kitchen. An extensive cheese department is another serious draw. There’s a gorgeous selection to choose from, plus charcuterie, olives and all the extras needed to build a better board. Add fresh hand-rolled sushi, and dinner is served, with zero preheating involved. Beyond that, there’s fresh seafood, premium meats, store-made salads and sides, baked goods, fresh mozzarella, juices, locally brewed coffee and specialty goods from around the world. Come hungry and bring the bigger bag—you’re going to need it.

above: Kathleen Dyke shops with her son, Gus, who has his own cart and a very important job to do. left: The preparedfood case is loaded with dinner shortcuts, partyready sides and plenty of options to grab and go.

NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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buzz

above: Vivienne C. Finn, remembered in photographs from her childhood through the years, and with the family who loved her: Gabrielle, Connor, Mairéad, Vivienne, David and Regina

TURNING GRIEF INTO ACTION

MAIRÉAD AND DAVID FINN ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THE WAY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCE CANCER by va lerie f oster

S

The foundation grew from knowledge acquired in the hardest possible way—not from a textbook or training program, but from the other side of a hospital bed. It is the Finns’ way of honoring their daughter while working toward a future in which other families face a different reality. Vivienne was a 4th grader at Sacred Heart Greenwich when what began as a routine visit to her pediatrician eventually led to a diagnosis of DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and inoperable brain tumor. The couple divided their responsibilities. David stopped working to care for their

ix years after their 11-year-old daughter died of brain cancer, Mairéad and David Finn of Old Greenwich are doing something no parent should ever have to learn to do: live in a world without their child. But grief was not the end of Vivienne’s story. In the years since her death, the couple has turned what they learned through illness, treatment and loss into the Vivienne C. Finn Foundation, a nonprofit with a three-pronged mission: accelerating pediatric cancer drug development, supporting families facing childhood cancer and championing federal and state legislative change.

other three children and manage the household, while Mairéad immersed herself in Vivienne’s care, and learned all she could about DIPG and available clinical trials. She quickly discovered not only the financial burden families face when a child is diagnosed with a serious disease, but the ways cancer can reverberate through an entire family. She learned the term “glass children,” referring to siblings who suppress their own feelings and stop asking their parents for anything because they believe their parents are already

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suffering enough. “For months, our other children lived on the sidelines, watching the frantic packing of hospital bags and waiting on pins and needles through every white-knuckle MRI scan, patiently hoping for a moment when David and I could look up, breathe and remind them they were still seen and deeply loved.” She also learned how quickly nutrition becomes a low priority for caregivers, making hospital vending machines and fastfood drive-throughs the easiest options. There was the mental and physical exhaustion that never let up, too, and the anger that comes with asking the question no parent should have to ask: Why my child? Dr. Vidya Puthenpura, Vivienne’s oncologist at Yale New Haven Hospital, remembers her as spunky and confident, a child who wanted to understand everything happening in her body. Mairéad says Vivienne had requirements of her own: She wanted to go to school, sleep in her own bed and be with her family. Traveling far for clinical trials was off the table, but her treatment was aggressive. Vivienne underwent 31 rounds of radiation, bravely took steroids and enrolled in an immunotherapy trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. And she got her wish. She entered 5th grade at Sacred Heart, joined the middle school soccer team and appeared in two school plays, Frozen and Annie. She slept in her own bed and remained part of her loving family. In the fall of 2019, after learning that the tumor was growing again, the Finns left the MSK trial and successfully fought for access to ONC 201, a promising cancer treatment that had not yet been approved by the FDA. Although the drug could not help Vivienne, it has since been approved for certain patients and has helped children with the disease. Vivienne’s cancer battle lasted 17 months, ending on March

“vivienne cared greatly for everyone’s happiness. she had a generous spirit, and we wanted to keep that momentum going forward.”

THE STATISTICS MAIRÉAD WANTS TO HELP CHANGE ARE SOBERING In the United States, approximately 1 in 285 children is diagnosed with cancer before age 20—about 15,000 children annually, or nearly 40 children each day. In Connecticut, approximately 200 children are diagnosed each year: 525 are in treatment and 40 children die.

— mairéad finn

10, 2020. Her funeral was held just as COVID shut down public gatherings in Connecticut, meaning only immediate family could attend, and Mairéad’s family in Ireland was forced to stay home. “This just added to the nightmare,” Mairéad says. “But it was such a very private funeral that I remember every detail. I also remember coming out from COVID. People did know Vivienne died, but no one wanted to talk about it.” “Vivienne cared greatly for everyone’s happiness,” she says. “She had a generous spirit, and we wanted to keep that momentum going forward.”

When a child dies, the average loss represents 71 potential years of life. Many cancer drugs used to treat children were originally developed for adults. Pediatric cancer often requires round-theclock care, forcing one in three families to have a parent quit a job, take unpaid leave or drastically reduce working hours.

The idea for a foundation developed slowly, rooted in the couple’s desire to honor Vivienne and be part of finding a cure, which Mairéad passionately believes will happen in her lifetime. They understood the value of clinical trials and the obstacles families face in accessing them. They also understood that cancer care extends far beyond the treatment itself. The foundation was established in early 2025, led by Mairéad and David and three friends who joined its board. Greenwich resident Debra McLaughlin has been involved since the beginning. She was among the friends and family members who watched Vivienne’s funeral on Zoom, feeling helpless when the pandemic made personal contact impossible. Quietly, and without the family’s knowledge, McLaughlin and her husband, Michael, spent the COVID lockdown walking through St. Mary’s Cemetery, stopping at Vivienne’s grave. What Debra could offer was simple but meaningful: She listened. And she understood that Mairéad’s desire to raise

below: Representative Michael McCaul on the steps of Capitol Hill with advocates from “Climb the Hill” day on September 18.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FINN FAMILY

buzz

Medical expenses are only part of the financial burden. Longdistance medical travel, temporary housing near specialized hospitals, parking and meals can add up quickly.

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LIFE

Challenged. Challenge underpins almost all learning and growth. And so, we instill in our boys the desire and dedication to dig deep, to strive for excellence, to challenge themselves as they reach new milestones of achievement, and always to aspire to be their very best in a lifelong journey through a changing world.

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above: Vivienne loved her time with friends at Sacred Heart Greenwich, from Halloween to 4th grade graduation.

“a heart that with the help from god could do no wrong… my heart’s goodness shall be shared.” — vivienne c. finn

awareness about childhood cancer needed to be channeled. Since its founding, the foundation has focused its work on all three parts of its mission. As a family partner with the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, which has donated more than $50 million to research labs across the country, the Finn Foundation relies on medical experts to help guide grantmaking toward innovative, high-impact studies. Locally, it directs funding to organizations including Circle of Care and Feeding Families Foundation, providing practical and compassionate support to families navigating childhood cancer. Federally, the foundation has aligned with organizations working to accelerate pediatric cancer drug development, participating in letter-writing campaigns, advocacy efforts and meetings with legislators. In September, the Finns traveled to Washington, D.C., for Climb the Hill, an advocacy initiative led by the Vivienne C. Finn Foundation, Kids v Cancer and Brave Like McKenna which brings young advocates affected by childhood cancer to Capitol Hill to raise awareness and discuss pediatric cancer policy. One of Mairéad’s biggest surprises was learning that Connecticut does not have a dedicated pediatric cancer action plan. The foundation is

now working to change that. With guidance from Mike Henry of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the Finns launched what Mairéad calls a “Coalition of the Willing,” a monthly gathering that brings together clinicians from Yale New Haven Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Hospital with families from across the state representing a range of pediatric cancer diagnoses. By sharing lived experiences, the group is working to develop a roadmap for transforming pediatric cancer care in Connecticut. Lawmakers are invited to participate, though Mairéad says few have attended. By the end of the year, the coalition aims to present a comprehensive document to the Connecticut Department of Public Health detailing systemic gaps in care and advocating for a dedicated State Children’s Cancer Plan to be integrated into Connecticut’s broader healthcare strategy. Visit vcfinnfoundation.org to explore the Foundation’s resources and learn more about its inaugural luncheon.

Policy to Progress cancer cures for kids NOV. 10, 2026

When Connor Finn, 16, thinks of his sister Vivienne, he remembers a girl who was “very kind, liked making people laugh, loved making people happy, and was a great gift giver.” “She always knew what someone needed at a certain moment,” he says. To honor her, Connor organizes an annual toy drive to spread joy through the pediatric wing at Yale New Haven Hospital. “I run the toy drive because I believe that when my sister was in the hospital, she would have loved if somebody had given her something to help her day. I also believe it’s important to give kids who are having a bad day a little hope and happiness.”

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1. JIMMY CHOO Lurex polka dot tulle heels; $1,595 $1,595. jimmychoo.com // 2. L’OBJET Prism wine glasses; $230 for set of four. Norwalk; bloomingdales.com // 3. TWP Traveling cashmere turtleneck sweater; $1,495. Westport; shop.mitchellstores.com // 4. VELOTRIC Breeze 1 cruiser ebike; $1,799. velotricbike.com // 5. FENDI Sequin baguette bag; $5,900. fendi.com // 6. OOMPH Cordless murano glass light; $545. Greenwich; oomphhome.com // 7. MARCO BICEGO Amethyst, pink tourmaline and garnet gemstone bracelet; $3,200. Fairfield; hcreidjewelers.com // 8. FAMILLE BY VERDURA Cabochon amethyst, turquoise candy ring; $21,500. Greenwich; famillegreenwich.com // 9. BOSE QuietComfort headphones; $359. bose.com // 10. RUSS HOLLANDER MASTER GOLDSMITH Pear-shaped AAA Ceylon sapphire and diamond necklace; $34,700. Stamford; 203-363-2200 NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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1. APPLE iPhone Duo; from $1,999. Greenwich; apple.com // 2. BOOK CLUB BAR Literary-inspired drink recipe book; $25. Old Greenwich; back40mercantile.com // 3. BETTERIDGE Lab-grown diamond emerald and pear-cut necklace; $7,000. Greenwich; betteridge.com // 4. SHARK CryoGlow Plus Anti-Aging LED Face Mask; $380. sharkninja.com // 5. NILI LOTAN Luce shearling short coat; $4,900. Greenwich; nililotan.com // 6. HERMÈS Kelly classique to go wallet; $7,200. Greenwich; hermes.com // 7. RAILS Oslo scarf; $148. Darien; dariensportshop.com // 8. MOLLY HATCH Stoneware mug; $18. Westport; anthropologie.com // 9. MIKIMOTO Pearl and blue sapphire drop earrings; $5,700. Westport; lbgreen.com // 10. BACCARAT 4 elements scented candle; $240. baccarat.com

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1. MORROW AND MAIN Not Your Husband’s Oxford; $178. morrowandmain.com // 2. MONOGRAM MARY Scalloped cocktail napkins; $58. Old Greenwich; monogrammary.com // 3. VERONICA BEARD Suede shoulder bag; $350. Greenwich; veronicabeard.com // 4. VINTAGE RENÉ BOIVIN PARIS Ruby, diamond and gold ring; $85,000. Greenwich; stevenfoxjewelry.com // 5. NATIVE UNION Pop phone handset for modern devices; $40. Old Greenwich; athenabooksog.com // 6. SHREVE CRUMP & LOW 2.67-carat ruby and diamond earrings; $45,000. Greenwich; shrevecrumpandlow.com // 7. PIECEWORK PUZZLES Bon voyage theme 1000-piece puzzle; $40. pieceworkpuzzles.com // 8. MAISON LECOMTE FLAMENT Lightweight cotton bandana scarf; $100. Westport; west2westport.com // 9. KERRI ROSENTHAL Cotton knit sweater; $298. Westport; kerrirosenthal.com

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Turn up the heat with gifts in the season’s most spirited shade

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1. HOUSE OF NUNU Glass double trouble cups, set of 2; $80. Westport; evbantiques.com // 2. NAGI JEWELERS Peridot and blue topaz necklace by Lauren K.; $5,190. Stamford; nagijewelers.com // 3. HILL HOUSE HOME Satin oakley dress; $348. Greenwich; hillhousehome.com // 4. PETER SUCHY JEWELERS Tsavorite garnet diamond earrings; $3,295. Stamford; petersuchyjewelers.com // 5. CHANEL Goatskin and mixed fibers slingback; $1,225. chanel.com // 6. JL ROCKS 18K peridot and diamond wrap band; $850. Greenwich, Westport; jlrocks.com // 7. WÜSTHOF Classic color knife block, $1,260. Westport; williams-sonoma.com // 8. ADDISON ROSS Lacquer backgammon set; $325. Greenwich; Navy Lobster 203.625.8243 // 9. PENNY LINN Beginner bow needlepoint kit; $55. Rowayton; pennylinn.com

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1. BOTTEGA VENETA Ricordami Eau de Parfum; $300. Greenwich; saks.com // 2. LONGCHAMP Custom my pliage travel bag; $520. longchamp.com // 3. GUMUCHIAN 18K yellow gold and diamond bezel band; $16,060. Greenwich, New Canaan; manfredijewels.com // 4. STELLA McCARTNEY Fur-free fur-trimmed coat; $3,900. stellamccartney.com // 5. ASHA BY ASHLEY MCCORMICK Genevieve cuff; $225. Greenwich; ashabyadm.com // 6. CLEA Sutton knit set; $895. Darien; tnuck.com // 7. RH Prani round bowl; from $275. Greenwich; rh.com // 8. DE ‘LONGHI Rivelia fully automatic espresso machine; $1,300. Westport; crateandbarrel.com // 9. JENNI KAYNE Shearling ashby clog; $345. Westport; jennikayne.com // 10. HEY GRAY LADY Love you brass and 14K-gold-plated bracelet; $170. heygraylady.com

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Winvian’s Artist's Cottage (left) makes a case for the creative retreat. An easel and art supplies (above) encourage guests to pick up a brush, while a cozy bed tucked between bookshelves (right) gives the cottage a distinctly private feel. It’s a setting that invites you to step away from the everyday, relax and let your imagination wander.

A Creative Escape at Winvian COURTESY OF WINVIAN/ JESSIE CASEY

AN ARTIST'S COTTAGE, INSPIRED CUISINE AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES make this Litchfield County retreat a feast for the senses

C

reativity needs room to breathe—away from the distractions of everyday life. Winvian, the Relais & Châteaux estate in Litchfield County, offers a soothing creative retreat in its charming Artist's Cottage, replete with luxurious amenities and art supplies. During a visit to the 113-acre property in Morris, just over an hour from Fairfield County, guests experience art and craftsmanship woven into every aspect of the stay—from the architecture and interior design to the hospitality, cuisine and spa. A recent getaway to Winvian left me suffused with a sense of well-being and inspired me to let my inner artist out. NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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go Winvian’s story is as inspiring as its setting: What began as the family estate and farm that Winthrop and Vivian Smith purchased in 1948 has evolved into the luxury resort it is today. Proprietor Maggie Smith brought a bold creative vision to the property, commissioning 15 architects to design 18 individually themed cottages, including the celebrated Tree House and Helicopter cottages. Nearly 20 years after opening, Winvian continues to embody the spirit of Smith and her daughter, managing director Heather Smith Winkelman: a deep sense of family tradition balanced by an openness to new ideas. ARTIST COTTAGE That balance is evident in the Artist Cottage, which received a design refresh in May. New paint and painterly wallpaper bring a fresh sensibility, while its bones remain the same. Inside, light pours through stained-glass windows and splashes across walls lined with millwork painted a restful blue-gray. The built-in bed, with its curved wood canopy, evokes a bygone era. With shelves and closets tucked on either side, the shipshape use of space made me feel as though I was aboard a boat. Despite its storybook charm, the bed is subtly luxurious—at the press of a button, a TV rises from the foot of the bed. New wallpaper depicting an impressionistic forest adds another layer of enchantment. In cool weather, the woodburning fireplace draws guests into the cozy living area, which has a pull-out queen-size bed, adding additional space to settle in. Winvian staff light the fire and prepare the beds, ensuring that guests’ only task is to relax. In warmer weather, the screened-in porch is an inviting spot for a morning coffee or an early evening drink. We brought some of the cottage’s many art supplies out to the porch, along with the easel and a palette of paints, and let the creativity flow. New wallpaper in the bathroom resembles a canvas covered in paint swabs, as if an artist were testing hues of violet, cerulean and rose. The gleaming white-tiled shower features a mosaic of two

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koi, along with a rain showerhead and steam option. The soaking tub is huge. DINING Breakfast was served on the restaurant’s second-floor, curved, windowed balcony overlooking the grounds. It can be as healthy or hearty as you wish: a yogurt-andgranola parfait with housemade jam and local honey, or the frittata of the day, with a side of crisp potatoes, bacon and Bantam Bread Bakehouse toast. First, the server placed a tempting platter of mini pain au chocolat and muffins, along with jam and Vermont butter, on the white tablecloth. The fruit bowl was exquisite: perfect cubes of pineapple and melon and halved grapes, bathed in fresh, floral, citrusy “orange blossom juice.” Maggie’s Tavern is the place for casual dining, with two distinct spaces: a dark, cozy bar with a fireplace and a large, window-lined room filled with sunlight during the day. In warmer weather, guests can dine outdoors on the stone terrace. At lunch, you can order a turkey panini or Maggie’s Burger, but the menu also includes dinner

what began as the family estate and farm that winthrop and vivian smith purchased in 1948 has evolved into the luxury resort it is today.

Clockwise from above: At Winvian, relaxation is built into the landscape. Inviting fireplaces, Adirondack chairs gathered around an outdoor firepit and water fountains create a series of spaces for enjoying the 113-acre property at an unhurried pace.

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go entrees such as house-made pasta, fish of the day and chicken paillard. We were struck by the classic technique and beautiful treatment of the vegetables, which are grown on Winvian’s farm. The chef’s soup of the day was a particular highlight. The gazpacho, made with tomato, watermelon and basil, balanced acidity and sweetness like no other gazpacho we’ve ever tasted. The soup changes with the season, but the chef’s technique and quality ingredients are sure to remain a constant.

Clockwise from top left: It’s all in the details: bicycles ready for exploring, the dining nook in the Artist Cottage, the estate’s garden and seasonal fall florals. Together, they capture Winvian’s mix of comfort, craftsmanship and connection to the outdoors.

THE RESTAURANT If you’re staying at Winvian, dinner at the restaurant is a must. And even if you’re not staying over, it’s worth the trip. The experience is excellent in every way. Eating in this fine dining restaurant feels like being a guest in a lovely old Connecticut home in an intimate dining room decorated with family antiques. The European-style service is professional and unobstrusive, allowing the food to shine. Chef Chris Eddy has been at the helm of the kitchen for 20 years. He introduced a seed-totable philosophy, and much of the produce comes from the threeacre garden, tended by Hungry Reaper Farm. Chef Eddy can create the purest expression of a carrot in an amuse-bouche of carrot soup with horseradish cream and a frond of dill, or serve a single pristine radish with cultured herb butter. Three- and four-course prix-fixe dinners allow guests to try a variety of preparations, beginning with beef tartare or seared yellowfin, then savouring hand-rolled cavatelli or handmade gnocchi. For the third course, a pro tip: If there’s duck on the menu, order it. G

Artist in Residence Jennifer Sabella’s colorful, vibrant paintings hang throughout Winvian. She also teaches a popular art class there. Sabella, who grew up in Westport, is as hands-on or hands-off as each student needs—always encouraging and charming. Once your painting is dry, you can take it home as a memento of your stay; Sabella’s paintings are also available for purchase. Art classes are one of many on-site experiences, which include a full-service spa, private yoga, wine tastings and archery and cooking classes.

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home OPENING STATEMENT

RH EXPANDS ITS DESIGN UNIVERSE with an immersive new gallery and Cucina Angelina by liz barron

W

hen its grand doors opened in September, RH Estates, The Gallery on Greenwich Avenue and Cucina Angelina ushered in a new chapter, building on the brand’s longstanding presence in town. What began nearly three decades ago as a modest 5,000-square-foot storefront has evolved into a collection of destinations spanning multiple buildings along The Avenue, including RH Greenwich, The Gallery at the Historic Post Office and RH Outdoor Greenwich. Spanning 20,000 square feet, RH Estates takes the idea of a showroom and makes it feel more like a massive private residence. The rooms are layered with furniture, art and antiques, offering a more intimate way to experience the collection—and, perhaps, to imagine how these pieces might live at home.

Guests pass through ornate doors of scrolled gilded iron and glass into a great room, where a grand wrought-iron-and-gold-leaf staircase rises from limestone floors beneath intricate cornice detailing, sculpted ceiling medallions and Venetian glass chandeliers. “RH Estates in Greenwich is the first freestanding RH Estates gallery in the world,” says RH Chairman & CEO Gary Friedman. “Our RH Estates concept launched earlier this summer, and represents a traditional, classic point of view reinterpreted in a new, contemporary way. We’ve been working on it for about five years, bringing together some of the most important luxury design brands in our industry,

including Michael Taylor, who Architectural Digest called one of the 20 greatest interior designers of all time, along with Formations, Dennis & Leen, Dmitriy & Co and Joseph Jeup. We think of ourselves as the amplifiers of the best minds and best work in our industry.” That craftsmanship is part of the appeal. Hand carving, individually applied finishes and traditional construction techniques give the pieces the patina and presence of objects meant to last, rather than simply fill a room.

CUCINA ANGELINA: A Culinary Tribute The transition from gallery to restaurant is intentionally seamless. Cucina Angelina,

PHOTOS; COURTESY OF RH

above: The grand façade of RH Estates brings an ornate new presence to Greenwich Avenue, with its historic-inspired architecture setting the tone for the gallery within.

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above: Inside RH Estates, furniture, art and accessories are arranged throughout generous spaces designed to feel like rooms in a home. below: Floor-to-ceiling rift-sawn European white oak wraps Cucina Angelina, warming the restaurant’s more intimate interior.

“WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS THE AMPLIFIERS OF THE BEST MINDS AND BEST WORK IN OUR I N D U S T R Y .” —rh chairman & ceo, gary friedman

RH’s first Italian restaurant in North America is reached through the gallery itself, with the bar and lounge serving as a natural bridge between the two spaces. The concept first debuted at RH Milan, but the Greenwich location carries a distinctly personal connection for Friedman, who named it for

his mother, Angelina Ascari. “We didn’t have a restaurant in Greenwich, and opening RH Estates gave us an opportunity to add one and complete the ecosystem with a hospitality experience. Cucina Angelina is also very personal to me. My mother, Angelina Ascari, is at the heart of the restaurant. It’s a tribute to her Italian heritage and to my Uncle Geno Ascari, whose love of cooking brought us all together for Sunday dinners,” says Friedman. Where the gallery is grand and bright, the restaurant is warmer and more intimate, with low lighting and a rich palette of materials. Floor-to-ceiling rift-sawn European white oak, Crema Emperador marble, classic

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herringbone floors, Italian burntcaramel velvet banquettes and a coffered ceiling give the room its character. The lounge sits between the gallery and restaurant, centered on a Crema Emperador marble bar framed in European oak millwork. It’s a natural stopping point for a cocktail, glass of wine or Champagne before dinner. The culinary menu, introduced at RH Milan, draws from classic Italian cooking, with woodfired pizzas, caviar carpaccios, seasonal salads and familiar RH favorites, including the burger. Taken together, the new spaces bring RH’s Greenwich presence

into sharper focus. The gallery, lounge and restaurant each offers a different way to spend time there—browsing, meeting with a designer, having a drink or sitting down for a meal—while still feeling connected to the larger RH experience. That connection between home, hospitality and gathering is central to Friedman’s vision. “The time we spend around a table with the people we love has a way of staying with us. That’s why this couldn’t be just any restaurant. We set out to create an experience unlike any other, built not for the moment, but for the memory,” he says. G

PARTY PHOTOS: MATT BORKOWSKI & STEVE LUCERO/BFA.COM

left: Cucina Angelina’s sets a more intimate tone for the Italian restaurant, which adjoins the new RH Estates Gallery on Greenwich Avenue. right: A petite filet is among the menu’s offerings, served alongside Italian classics and wood-fired specialties, like truffle pizza (below).

A GRAND ENTRANCE Greenwich turned out to toast the opening of RH Estates and Cucina Angelina on The Avenue, raising a glass to RH’s newest addition to its longtime Greenwich presence.

left to right: Morgan Caspi, Joshua Caspi, Delphine Krakoff, Reed Krakoff, Athena Calderone, Bella Hunter Friedman, Gary Friedman, Martha Stewart, Derek Blasberg, Allison Brant, Shirin von Wulffen, Tyler Mitchell, Stephanie Mitchell; Athena Calderone, Derek Blasberg; Sarah Landman, Paige Paul, Eleanor Banco, Ali Galgano; Heath Koch, Nikki Glazer, Nikki Munzer

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FINE LINES

CONTRAST TRIM CREATES A TAILORED EDGE

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“adding piping—during reupholstery or fabrication—is a great way to add a custom detail or bring in a little contrast color. we love dressmaker details: fringe, micro-welts, tape trims. it’s sometimes a forgotten detail that makes a big difference without breaking the bank.”

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—stephanie woodmansee, henry & co design

6 1 REJUVENATION

2 CRATE & BARREL

3 &TRADITION

4 BRUNEL

5 LA DOUBLE J

Italian velvet contrast piping pillow cover; $149 each. rejuvenation.com

Raffiné chair by Athena Calderone; $1,499. Westport; crateandbarrel.com

Colette ATD6 table lamp; $565. hivemodern.com

Ellis ottoman in celadon linen; $1,700. shopbrunel.com

Large rainbow napkins; $85 for set of two. us.ladoublej.com

6 SCOUT DESIGN STUDIO Nicola swivel chair; $1,250. scoutdesign studio.com

7 SERENA & LILY Miramar English roll arm sofa in velvet mohair; starting at $9,238. Westport; serenaandlily.com

IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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COCKTAIL POWER

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SHAKEN, STIRRED AND OLIVE-OBSESSED

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1 MAISON BALZAC Olive plate; $110. fete.com

2 PORTA Elodie footed wine glass; $148 for set of six. porta-nyc.com

3 HOUSE OF GLEASON

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House Special Dirty Martini needlepoint sign; $68. houseofgleason.com

4 GEORG JENSEN Manhattan stainless steel cocktail shaker; $180. Eleish Van Breems Home, Westport; evbantiques.com

5 ANNIE DOWNING INTERIORS Antipasto on grasscloth wallpaper; $140 per yard. shop. anniedowning.com

6 SOPHIE LOU JACOBSEN Cosmo coupe; $150 for set of four. DWR, Westport; dwr.com

7 ADDISON ROSS

IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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“i’ve always thought of the olive as nature’s polka dot; it’s playful, a little unexpected and doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

Khaki green & pale denim bobbin bottle opener; $46. usa.addisonross.com

8 WILLIAMS SONOMA Heirloom silver footed condiment bowl; $27.95. Westport; williamssonoma.com

9 TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany Facets cocktail spoon in brass with silver plate; $420. Greenwich, Westport; tiffany.com

—annie downing, annie downing interiors

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A SURVIVAL GUIDE:

5

TIPS

THE SANDWICH GENERATION

CARING FOR AGING PARENTS CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING. TWO LOCAL EXPERTS SHARE HOW TO

PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE THE JOURNEY A LITTLE EASIER.

left: Dr. Alison McElhone right: Hildy Sheinbaum, RN, CDP.

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fall. A hospitalization. A phone call from a neighbor who noticed something. That is how most families arrive at Hildy Sheinbaum’s practice. “Typically, people are in crisis when they reach out to me,” says Sheinbaum, a registered nurse and certified dementia practitioner who runs H. Sheinbaum & Associates, a geriatric care consulting practice serving Fairfield and Westchester counties. In the space of a weekend, a family that had been quietly notdiscussing the situation has to find a plan— and a way to pay for it. Sheinbaum has spent more than 40 years as a nurse. She is also a daughter, currently caring for her 98-year-old mother. She knows both sides of the phone call. “If I could do one thing, it would be to educate people when they’re in their 50s and 60s to think about how they want to live their life when they age,” she says. Nearly a quarter of American adults are currently sandwiched between an aging parent and children of their own—and among adults in their 40s, it’s more than half, according to Pew Research Center data released this summer. Here is what two local experts want those families to know before the phone rings.

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RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS Dr. Alison McElhone is a geriatrician at Stamford Health Medical Group’s Geriatric Assessment Center in Wilton. Most of her patients arrive because of a cognitive change. But there are other reasons too: mood changes, sleep problems, falls, hospitalizations, too many medications. The first thing families want to know is whether what they’re seeing is normal. “I usually think of age-related cognitive changes as more of a slowing, not a forgetfulness,” Dr. McElhone says. The name of an actor that won’t surface right away. Walking into a room and forgetting what you came in for. “In true cognitive impairment and dementia, memory is not generally coming back,” she says. “They’re repeating themselves. They’re repeating the same questions or telling the same stories, and families are noticing. Friends are noticing. Coworkers, if they are working, are noticing.” Three areas concern her most—the tasks that keep an independent life running: driving, finances and medications. On driving, she asks about the red flags: moving violations, fender benders, near misses, getting lost or a passenger who no longer feels comfortable in the car. If she’s hearing those and seeing changes on cognitive testing, the conversation shifts to cutting back or stopping. When the picture is unclear, she refers patients for a formal assessment with a driving specialist for an objective read. On money, she sees patients who’ve been targeted by scams, made late payments or paid the same bill twice. Her instinct is not to take the checkbook away. “I want people to do as much for themselves as they can,” she says. Often the fix is supervision rather than taking away control. On medication, she is blunt: “Medication errors lead to emergency room visits and hospitalizations, serious injuries and even death.”

Sometimes medication is the problem. McElhone has seen patients taking high-dose opioids, benzodiazepines, anticholinergic drugs such as bladder medications, or a combination of these, whose cognition and functioning improved after their medications were reduced. “I’ve seen people clear very well,” she says. Sheinbaum’s version of the same instinct is simpler, and it’s what she tells families to watch for. “Red flag, yellow flag, green flag,” she says. “My mom’s not bathing. She doesn’t look right.” Small things. The ones adult children talk themselves out of noticing.

of what help looks like—an image of institutional care formed decades ago, when it was accurate. Then there is the promise. Sheinbaum hears it constantly: a son or daughter who swore years ago never to move a parent into a community. “Being at home looks like loneliness, isolation, long days without any kind of stimulation or socialization, ” she says. Today’s communities, in her experience, look nothing like the ones their parents feared. There’s chair yoga. Arts and crafts. Music. “Children are often tormented by the fact that they promised their mom or dad not to put them ’away,’ when they don’t know what 'away' really means.”

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HAVING THE CONVERSATION

UNDERSTANDING THE OPTIONS

Here is where good intentions do the most damage. “I think too often the child will just want to take control,” McElhone says. Sheinbaum points to something structural underneath it. “Parents don’t want to be parented by their children,” she says. “That role reversal, in and of itself, brings with it a tremendous amount of psychological and emotional ramifications.” She thinks families underestimate the weight of change. “Transition at any age is difficult, and when you’ve done something for 60 or 70 years, it’s that much more difficult,” she says. Parents in their 80s are also working from an outdated picture

The spectrum runs from staying home with support through independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. But what separates one community from another? “You need to look beyond the beautiful walls,” she says. The questions she wants families asking: What are the staffing ratios? What are the response times when a resident needs help? What activities run on an ordinary Tuesday, not just on the tour? And if dementia is part of the picture, how are residents with cognitive impairment integrated into the community, and are there separate programs appropriate to them?

three areas concern her most— the tasks that keep an independent life running: driving, finances and medications.

An assessment by a care manager, she says, is a different instrument than a physician’s visit. A care manager is looking at the whole context. “What does your life look like where you are now? Are you safe? Are there scattered drugs in your home?” She’s also frank about a constraint most families discover too late: the government does not pay for care at home unless a person qualifies for Medicaid within a specific income threshold. Families who have planned carefully in every other respect are often blindsided by that one. Resources for aging adults in this country are scant, she says.

4 PLANNING BEFORE THE CRISIS “Here’s the one definite thing that we know: Nobody lives forever,” Sheinbaum says. “You can’t dispute that.” She puts a marker at 60. “When you turn 60, I think that’s a flag. Let’s stop and start thinking.” Decisions about the house, funds, about who speaks for you when you can’t—all of them are easier to make while they’re hypothetical. McElhone builds the same conversation into every comprehensive visit, particularly when a patient has come in for cognitive changes. A living will. A healthcare proxy. Preferences about aggressive intervention. And, looking further out: Do you want to stay in your home and bring help in? Live with your children? Look at assisted living? “You want to get their preferences down,” she says, while they can still state them. The urgency compounds with a dementia diagnosis, and not in the way families expect. “It’s a journey, and it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Sheinbaum says. Diagnoses are arriving earlier now; she’s seeing people in their 60s, whose bodies are strong enough that they may live with the disease for 20 years. Which is why wishes need to be recorded at the beginning. Asked what families regret most, she doesn’t hesitate: not moving sooner. Denial sets in early, signs get explained away and by the time

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“it’s not necessarily living t o a h undred, bu t living well and being as functional as p ossib le.” anyone acts, things progress. Sheinbaum gives every placement at least three months before judging it. “Friends are not made overnight,” she says. And a placement is not a handoff. “You can’t place somebody in a community setting and say bye, because it doesn’t work,” she says. “You have to be there as that person’s advocate. It does take a village.”

5 WHAT “AGING WELL” ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE “It’s not necessarily living to 100, but living well and being as functional as possible into the end of life,” she says. That means having needed support, avoiding hospitalization and illness, getting appropriate preventive care—and, in a phrase that has taken over her field, extending health span rather than lifespan. Lifestyle matters: aerobic activity for cardiovascular benefit; strength and balance training for muscle and fall prevention; a Mediterranean-style diet; daily movement, preferably. But the part she returns to isn’t physical. “Too many of us, as we get older, our circles become smaller and smaller, and that is not good,” she says. “The people that have aged well keep their circles open. They are engaging others. They’re making new friends. They’re putting themselves out there.” She points patients toward the things already here: learning programs, senior centers, cultural and educational events. Put something on the calendar once or twice a week. Then go. That’s the goal underneath all of it: a life with enough structure to be safe and enough people in it to be worth living. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” Sheinbaum says. Which is the argument for starting the conversation now, over coffee, years before anyone has to.

Fair fiel d Co unt y 's

SENIOR LIVING & CARE GUIDE Aging In Place

fitness, educational and social activities, trips, meals, wellness programs, resource referrals and transportation assistance for adults 60+; stamfordseniorct.org

GREENWICH At Home in Greenwich

Helps older residents age in place with rides, practical assistance, home-safety assessments, referrals, and social programs. athomeingreenwich.org

The Over 60 Club

Stamford nonprofit offering seniors free programs, meals, wellness activities, social events, transportation and community resource referrals; theoversixtyclub.org

The Wallace Center

Free senior center for residents 55+, offering fitness, education, social activities, meals and aging-in-place resources. greenwichwallacecenter.org

WESTPORT, WESTON, WILTON Stay at Home in Wilton

Membership-based nonprofit helping Wilton residents through volunteer rides, friendly visits, household help, educational programs and social activities; stayathomeinwilton.org

River House Adult Day Center

Nonprofit adult day program offering social, recreational, and health services for seniors while providing caregivers respite and support.

Westport Center for Senior Activities

Community center for adults 60+ offering wellness programs, classes, meals, social activities and more; westportcsa.org

NEW CANAAN, DARIEN, ROWAYTON

Weston Human Services

Town resource providing senior outreach, needs assessments, benefits assistance, counseling, Meals on Wheels coordination and referrals to services.

Waveny LifeCare Network

A nonprofit providing in-home care, geriatric care management and adult day services for people with memory loss; waveny.org

Independent & Assisted Living

Staying Put in New Canaan A membership organization helping residents 60+ through volunteer rides, home repairs, tech support and social activities; stayingputnc.org

BRIDGEPORT

3030 Park

A continuing care retirement community offering independent living, assisted living and memory care; seniorlivinghospitality. com/3030-park

At Home In Darien

A nonprofit providing free transportation, vetted serviceprovider referrals and social events to every Darien resident 60 and older; athomeindarien.org

DARIEN

Atria

STAMFORD

An independent and assisted living community and the only independent living option in Darien itself; atriaseniorliving.com

SilverSource

Nonprofit helping Stamford residents 60+ age in place with free medical transportation, post-illness home care, medical alert services and more; silversource.org

NORWALK, STAMFORD, TRUMBULL

Bridges by EPOCH

A memory-care-only community designed for every stage of dementia—the area's most

Stamford Senior Center

Nonprofit senior center offering

specialized option; bridgesbyepoch.com

NORWALK

Brightview on New Canaan

Assisted living and a dedicated memory care neighborhood offering personalized support, engaging activities and specialized care; brightviewseniorliving.com

STAMFORD

Edgehill

A continuing care community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing on one campus, so residents can plan for changing needs; edgehillcommunity.com

DARIEN

Maplewood at Darien

An assisted living and memory care residence with specialized programming for Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neurological conditions; maplewoodseniorliving. com/darien-ct

REDDING

Meadow Ridge

A 62+ continuing care retirement community on 136 acres offering independent living, assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing under a Lifecare contract; meadowridge.com

STAMFORD

Mozaic Senior Life

A nonprofit senior care organization offering independent and assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, home care, hospice and more; mozaicsl.org

DARIEN

The Residence at Selleck's Woods

An assisted living community with independent living and a dedicated memory care neighborhood; lcbseniorliving. com/communities/residence-atsellecks-woods

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hether you’re wondering if your child is ready for an orthodontic evaluation, your teenager is asking about options they saw on TikTok or you’re an adult considering treatment, orthodontics has certainly changed significantly since you were a kid. Dr. Bina Park, who has a practice in Greenwich and New York City, answers our questions about early treatment, social media, newer options, adult orthodontics and why the retainer you may have stopped wearing still matters.

is bonded behind the upper and lower incisors to straighten teeth without wearing traditional braces or Invisalign. At present, I am the only orthodontist providing this treatment in Connecticut and the results have been terrific. It’s a great option for my patients, particularly those with mild to moderate misalignment of the front teeth. I use the C5 technology selectively and it can be a wonderful tool, especially when we want to make a focused correction without putting a patient through more treatment than they actually need. It cannot address significant skeletal discrepancy, a complex bite problem, or substantial tooth movement. The amount of time it stays on depends on what we’re correcting and how the individual patient responds, but generally I find that in four to six months you will see a significant difference.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT HAVING THEIR CHILD EVALUATED? Schedule an evaluation, but remember that an evaluation doesn’t automatically mean treatment. Around age seven, I can take a helpful first look at how the permanent teeth are coming in and

dr. b i na pa rk , w h o has a pr act i ce i n g re e nwi ch a nd new york ci t y, a ns we rs our questions

ORTHODONTICS AT EVERY AGE FROM EARLY TREATMENT TO THE SMILE YOU KEEP FOR LIFE

how the upper and lower jaws are developing. Most children don’t need braces at that age, and sometimes the best plan is simply to monitor their growth. However, issues such as significant crowding, crossbites, teeth that are at risk of injury, or a tooth that may not be erupting properly are often easier to address when we catch them early. The goal isn’t to treat every 7-year-old—it’s to identify children who may genuinely benefit from early care.

WHAT DO PARENTS WHO HAD BRACES 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO OFTEN MISUNDERSTAND ABOUT ORTHODONTICS TODAY? There are a few misconceptions I hear all the time: One is, “My teeth were perfectly straight after braces, and then my wisdom teeth came in and pushed everything crooked again.” Wisdom teeth have historically taken a lot of the blame for late crowding, but we now understand that teeth can continue to shift throughout life for many reasons. That’s why long-term retention is so important. Parents also often expect their child’s orthodontic experience to be similar to what they remember from 20 or 30 years ago—heavy wires, more discomfort, very visible appliances, and treatment that felt like something you simply had to endure. Orthodontics today is much more individualized. We have more precise treatment

planning, lighter forces, smaller and more comfortable appliances, and much more discreet options.

WHAT SHOULD TEENS—AND THEIR PARENTS—KNOW ABOUT ORTHODONTIC INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Social media has created a tremendous amount of interest among teenagers in orthodontics, facial growth and even how their jaws develop. Teens are coming into the office more engaged, asking questions and taking a real interest in their own treatment. But there is also a lot of misinformation. We hear about trends like “mewing,” “looksmaxxing,” and techniques that supposedly create a stronger jawline or dramatically change facial structure. Social media can make it seem as though changing your tongue position, chewing a certain way or doing facial exercises can completely reshape your jaw. Interest is good; misinformation isn’t. I would much rather have a teenager come in and say, “I saw this on TikTok—is it true?” Then we can look at their face, their bite and their growth and have a real conversation about what is possible.

WHAT IS THE C5 WIRE, AND WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM IT? The C5 wire is the newest development in orthodontics. With this technique, a small wire

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL AN ADULT WHO HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR YEARS? If you’ve been thinking about treatment, don’t keep putting it off. Teeth will keep changing (unless you wear a retainer). It is better to address a problem before it becomes more complicated. As we get older, we may develop more dental work, gum or bone changes, tooth wear, or other issues that can make orthodontic treatment more complex. Starting sooner can sometimes mean a simpler treatment plan, less treatment time and ultimately less expense.

HOW LONG SHOULD SOMEONE WEAR A RETAINER? A retainer is forever. I like to compare wearing a retainer to brushing your teeth. You wouldn’t brush your teeth once and expect them to stay healthy forever. A retainer is similar. It’s part of the ongoing tool to keeping your straight smile. Teeth are part of a living, changing body, and they naturally continue to shift throughout our lives, whether or not we’ve had orthodontic treatment. Initially, retainers are worn more consistently, but over time most patients can transition to sporadic wear.

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money matters

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

RAISING MONEY-SAVVY KIDS

Kerry Connell

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hen Kerry Connell’s college-age daughter came home one summer break, eight friends joined her in the Connells’ New Canaan home. The kitchen conversations about money came naturally to the family, but pleasantly surprised some of the friends, who later turned to Connell for finance help as the friends graduated and found jobs. “They wanted to know, What’s an HSA? What’s a 401(k)? What’s a Roth IRA?” says Connell, an advisor and executive vice president at HTG Investment Advisors in New Canaan. “Many couples don’t talk about money.

different people choose to spend their money differently based on their values,” she says. As their kids grew older, but hadn’t yet reached 16, Connell encouraged them to find jobs, including babysitting and refereeing soccer. “We opened Roth IRAs for them when they started making money, and told them to keep track of what they made every week. For Christmas, we’d match what they had in the Roth. It empowers them.” This also helped the kids understand that money is compensation received for work, not a vague notion connected to a piece of plastic or a phone pulled out in exchange for goods. Indeed, a September 2026 report from Capital One Spending found that households making $150,000 or more use cashless payment methods 91 percent of the time. That number jumps to 94 percent for consumers aged 18 to 24. As high school approached, the Connells discussed paying for college. “Everybody thinks their child is going to be a lacrosse superstar,” and that scholarships

And if they do, they don’t involve their kids.” By the time they’re in kindergarten, children have emotional reactions to spending and saving money, and these translate into real-life behaviors, according to a University of Michigan study. And that’s when financial literacy should begin, Connell suggests. Early financial education, she says, is the key to raising money-savvy kids. The Connells have made it a family practice to talk about money since their children were little. Shopping at the grocery store, for example, presented an early “opportunity to say no, and to explain why” beyond a pat “we can’t afford it” response. Connell would challenge her little ones to scan the shelves in search of the lowest unit-cost of similar items, then together they would decide what to purchase. “It’s not that you necessarily have to buy the cheapest item. You might spend more because you value the taste. It’s a conscious decision. This gives you an opportunity to convey how

will follow. That kind of wishful thinking doesn’t always pan out. Better to shop ahead of time, when there’s no pressure to decide, for less expensive schools. “You want to give options and set expectations for when the kids do go to college. What we don’t want to see is clients taking on tons of debt or taking from the retirement account.” Kelly Connell owed $160,000 after earning her MBA and law degrees, and she and her husband were determined to lighten the load for their kids. The Connells vowed to pay for tuition, room and board, but for anything beyond that, the kids had to get summer jobs. They put their earnings into a money market account and drew from that if necessary during the school year. “They’d earned it and they could see it going up and going down,” Connell says. “It gives them a lot more agency.” The kids are older now, and their questions about money have become more complicated. But they—and their friends—know where to turn: to the Connells’ kitchen table. G

ABOUT THAT ALLOWANCE… For years, parents have paid their children an allowance each week in return for chores performed. Lately, though, parenting experts have questioned that practice, believing that everyone in a family should help out with chores, with no expectation of a cash payment. An allowance can serve a different purpose—money To help kids understand how to save, spend and plan, divide their weekly cash allowance into three physical buckets, one to spend as they wish, one to save for the future and one to donate to others in need. This helps kids see money coming in and going out, setting them up for a future of conscientious spending.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

management made simple, says Lourdes Rodriguez, a family resources expert at the University of Arizona.

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r u o Y Tell y r o t S

ith EMOIR, w M A O T ORIES IN down Turn MEM ces to help write it ur local reso . tory to tell s a s a h e veryon ries od memo o h d il h c e From as, take th g a s r e e r a to c now. ur memoir o y e it r w s and time to ing group it r w a e r r a Local reat tool fo g a e r a s ect workshop earn, conn L . le a t r u he telling yo through t d e ir p s in t ilize and ge ions, or ut t a iz n a g r o ke following d AI to ma n a s e ic v r ing online se asy as talk e s a ir o m your me . to a friend

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take it across the finish line. These seven-week classes are in person and on Zoom for $395. Small class sizes allow for a hands-on, engaged experience.

THE WESTPORT WRITERS’ WORKSHOP

westportwriters.org The Westport Writers’ Workshop offers a number of workshops for everyone, from beginners to seasoned writers. This independent literary arts center is devoted to the philosophy that every person has a story to tell and can be a writer. They present workshops in person, online or through combination of both to suit your lifestyle, all aiming to provide a supportive creative environment. Attend individual events or sign up for multiweek workshops led by authors and writing professionals.

ONLINE PROGRAMS AND APPS

THE GREENWICH LIBRARY

greenwichlibrary.org The Greenwich Library provides opportunities throughout the year to learn and share stories. Keep an eye out for special evenings such as when The Greenwich Pen Women host Open Mic Night, and attendees can sign up to share their writing in five minute speaking slots.

PERROT MEMORIAL LIBRARY

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perrotlibrary.org Local libraries like the Perrot are a great place to network with other writers and learn about their process through author events. This fall, the Perrot Library invited local authors to participate in its Local Authors Showcase, which featured a meet and greet with authors as well as a speaker on the writing process.

GREENWICH PEN WOMEN

greenwichpenwomen.org Greenwich Pen Women is a nonprofit organization of professional artists, writers and composers. As a branch of the National League of American Pen Women, members may participate in local and national writers’ workshops and other events. Nationally, the organization publishes a quarterly literary magazine members may submit writing to and writers retreats. The local Greenwich branch was founded in 1955; the organization features opportunities to collaborate and

is a vibrant literary arts community that empowers writers at every stage of their creative development. From one-day intensives to multiweek offerings, classes like “Telling Stories: The Art of Biography” are sure to kick-start your writer’s journey. In person and Zoom options are available for many of the courses. Start November off with their “Memoir by Susan Hodara” one-day intensive, November 1 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. for $175. This is geared to a range of writers, from those with an existing project or starting off fresh. The four-hour inperson class provides a supportive environment talking about memoir writing, writing in class and sharing writing for constructive feedback. Buy tickets online for this workshop or check out their array of other offerings.

support other writers and artists. To join, writers must either work in a field that involves writing and editing or have published a book or printed pieces of writing. A membership form and more information is available on its website. The public is invited to their community outreach programs as well.

THE WALLACE CENTER

greenwichwallacecenter.org A wealth of inspiration awaits residents 55 years of age and older on The Avenue at the The Wallace Center. Membership is free and transportation is even available to bring Greenwich seniors to the 299 Greenwich Avenue location. With a goal of providing vibrant living and purposeful aging, the Wallace Center provides a range of courses, lectures and workshops. Keep an eye out for future memoir writing courses here. Earlier this year, they hosted an eight-week memoir writing workshop designed to help participants capture their life story for just $10.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY WRITERS’ STUDIO

fcwritersstudio.com The Fairfield County Writers’ Studio is committed to the craft of writing by helping emerging and established writers through workshops and masterclasses. Recent courses such as “Writing Publishable Personal Essays and Flash Memoirs” and “Intermediate and Advance Memoir Writing” can inspire your memoir or

HUDSON VALLEY WRITERS CENTER

writerscenter.org The Hudson Valley Writers Center

storyworth.com storiedlife.ai A number of online websites and apps utilize AI to help memoirists write their stories without ever having to put pen to paper or fingers to a keyboard. Brands like Storied Life and Storyworth allow individuals to tell their story through spoken word. Whether through phone interviews or via online prompts, stories are recorded, transcribed and turned into hardcover books or online e-books. Some sites provide options to include photos to be uploaded to correspond with the stories or chapters of a life. Many of these and similar websites feature an online AI biographer that records conversations and then edits them to create a cohesive memoir. Prices vary but typical run $130.

AUDIOBOOK OPTIONS

storii.com Sometimes it is more than just the story you want to preserve. The unique voice of the person telling their tale can be just as memorable. Things like regional accents and intonation are aspects only live audio can capture. Storii is a service that allows individuals or family members to choose from a curated list of questions then interview them on the phone, utilizing the audio recordings to create audio books and, if requested, transcribed printings. This phone recording method means no internet service is required, and telling your life story is done over the course of multiple automated calls that can be answered on the phone from any where at the story tellers convenience. For those who travel or have multiple residences, this can provide a simple way to tell their stories, or a certain chapter of their life in an easy audio manner for less than $60.

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g-mom

OUT & AB OUT • A Greenw ich magazine and Greenw ich Moms par tnership

NOVEMBER PLAYBOOK FROM TURKEY TROTS TO FLORAL WORKSHOPS AND GIANT BALLOONS, HERE ARE SOME FAMILY-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND GREENWICH THIS MONTH. by l ayl a lisiewski

No. 1 GOBBLE & GO

No. 3 IN THEIR HONOR

Get the whole family moving before the turkey hits the table.

Veterans Day March When: Wednesday, November 11, 10:15 a.m. Where: Meet at the top of Greenwich Avenue at Amogerone Crossway

New Canaan Turkey Trot When: Sunday, November 22 Where: Waveny Park Pre-race check-in: 10:30 a.m.

Greenwich Alliance for Education Turkey Trot 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run/ Walk When: Saturday, November 28 Where: Roger Sherman Baldwin Park Start times: 1-Mile, 9:30 a.m.; 5K, 10 a.m. Mini Trot: 9 a.m. for ages 3–5, with a short run through the race chute, plus T-shirts and stickers. Annual Turkey Run & Paws Walk When: Saturday, November 28 Where: Rye Recreation Center Schedule: Check-in, 8 a.m.; Paws Walk, 9 a.m.; 1-Mile Fun Run, 9:30 a.m.; 3.1- or 5.2-Mile Race/Walk, 10 a.m.

No. 2 VOTE FOR FUN Greenwich Public Schools are closed Tuesday, November 3, and the Greenwich Botanical Center has two ways to fill the day. Election Day of Play 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | Grades K–3 Kids can spend the day outdoors with scavenger hunts, animal tracking, exploration and even a plant election. This is a drop-off program, and GBC members receive a discounted rate.

No. 4 UP IN THE AIR

Family Floral Workshop 2–3:30 p.m. | Ages 8+ $60 per garland for GBC members | $75 for nonmembers Families can create a three-foot floral garland using carnations in warm autumn hues. Floral designer Elior Coleman of Call Me Marigold will lead the hands-on workshop, covering color, texture and simple techniques for working with fresh flowers. Each participant takes home a finished garland. All materials are included and no experience is necessary. Note: This is not a drop-off program.

Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular When: Sunday, November 22, noon Where: Downtown Stamford Giant helium balloons, marching bands and colorful floats take over downtown Stamford for the annual Parade Spectacular, one of the country’s largest helium balloon parades. Want a behind-the-scenes look? Head to the Giant Balloon Inflation Party on Saturday, November 21, where families can watch the enormous balloons come to life alongside performances, clowns, holiday characters and a visit from Santa.

Every month, Layla Lisiewski, Greenwich mom of four and founder of Greenwich Moms and its parent company, The Local Moms Network, shares some of her favorite things to do—from seasonal activities to can’tmiss events. Follow @greenwich_moms on Instagram, sign up for the newsletter, and check out the calendar at greenwichmoms.com.

1: MIKAEL DAMKIER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; 2: ART STOCKER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; 3: BUMBLE DEE - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; 4: LISA SERVIDIO

Gather with family, friends and neighbors for the annual Community Patriotic Walk to Honor Veterans. Following the march, the Greenwich Veterans Council and American Legion Post 29 will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the monument in front of the Board of Education building on Greenwich Avenue.

Harbor Point 15th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run When: Thursday, November 26 Where: Harbor Point Square, Stamford Registration: 7:30 a.m. | Race: 8 a.m.

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With heartfelt gratitude, we thank the dedicated and generous friends who joined us at The Benefit for Greenwich Hospital. We are thrilled to celebrate the extraordinary success of our Arc of Care Campaign, which surpassed its original $125 million goal to reach a remarkable $160 million milestone thanks to our community’s incredible support.

Together, your generosity is helping transform care close to home through support for the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital Building Fund and the NICU/Labor and Delivery Construction Fund. To learn how you can make a difference, contact Noël Appel, SVP & Chief Development Officer, 203-863-3861, Noel.Appel@GreenwichHospital.org Giving.GreenHosp.org

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Who will be voted All New. All You. THE BEST?

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES BESTOFGOLDCOASTCT.COM Nominations Open: November 17

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people ople&PLACES by alison nichols gr ay

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BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE / GlenArbor Golf Club

Play It Forward

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olf, mahjong and philanthropy came together for a day of community and giving at GlenArbor Golf Club. The Breast Cancer Alliance event brought together corporate leaders, philanthropists, physicians, advocates and friends to support breast cancer research, breast surgery fellowships and screening programs for underserved women across Connecticut and Westchester County. breastcanceralliance.org » 1 Kim Agustine, Mary Jeffery, Meg Russell, Chrissy Von Oiste 2 Amanda Stern, Nathalie Carpenter, Alex Hardyment 3 Molly Laptook, Emily Brown, Liz Busch 4 Patricia Mee, Julie Stein, Laura Klarman, Paige McInerney 5 Frans Vermeulen, Dan Hubbert, Rebecca Hubbert, Joanna Foyle 6 Kathleen Dyke, Brynn John 7 Marlene Gilbert, Sandi Drucker Wright 8 Shaun and Amy Fletcher NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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1 GlenArbor Golf Club with the most unreal views from the greens 2 Bob Dryzgula, Marlene Gilbert, Karen Colella, Michelle Bella 3 Elise and Evan Margolin 4 Steve Kron, Josh Shaw, Steve Erenfryd, Michael Bachmann 5 Anna Mark, Susan Weis, Cindy Hatstadt, Amy Dates Fletcher 6 Matt McSpedon, Melissa Maurer, Diane Ouchterloney, Mike Malone 7 Leslie Lahoud, Courtney Matonti, Valeria Picerno 8 Chip Baird, Ed Laux, Kim Jeffery, Alan Gilbert 9 Lindley Pless, Elizabeth Hargraves

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/CARA GILBRIDE

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10 Jenny Klien, Jill Weiss, Susan Fahey, Pam Keller 11 Mahjong tiles 12 Multiple mahjong tables in session 13 Aida Dowdle, Alison Blicharz, Myrna Levinson, Frank Moore 14 Liane Zielinski, Alexis Abrnethy, Lori Kron 15 Spencer Mullaney, Oliver Ayer, Darren Wallace, Fred Evanko 16 Zac Mathias, Emily Brown 17 Nick Rinaldo, Dave Thal, Jack MacDonald, Matt Rinaldi 18 Francesca Ugas, Christina Wang, Dana Lewis, Pia Miranda, Anita Olby, Ginette Dean 19 Dawn Iarael, Dolly Mayer, Susan Carroll, Jana Doty 20 Amanda Stern, Nathalie Carpenter, Alex Hardyment, Liz Saxe 21 Le Sac Sulpice bags from the shopping portion of the afternoon » NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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Ivey Barnum & O’Mara recently joined Mandelbaum Barrett PC and our commitment to our Greenwich client base has never been stronger. From real estate to personal and business matters, we have you covered.

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ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL / Westchester Country Club, Rye NY

Help Is Here

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or six years, the annual St. Jude Give to Live Gala has brought the community together to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its work advancing life-saving research and treatment for children with cancer and other serious diseases. This year, the generosity of sponsors, guests and community partners helped raise nearly $3 million for the cause. At St. Jude, families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. What began in 2019 as a shared commitment to give back has grown into an inspiring evening centered on hope—and on helping children and their families around the world. stjude.org »

1 Tanya Meyers, Annette Perry, Sarah Bamford, Daisy McRandal, Lauren Bensal Moor 2 Patient family; Dr. Khurram Mehtabdin and Dr. Sarah Syed with daughters St. Jude patient Imani and her sister Amalia 3 Trey Morris leads a lively auction 4 Event Co-Chairs; Christina Bernstein, Marilena Greig 5 Samantha Rallis, Barrett Weller 6 Annette and Christian Perry

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NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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Sailing Into History

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oger Sherman Baldwin Park was the place to be for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Greenwich Historical Society’s Sunday in the Park with George drew a terrific turnout, with guests cheering as the 160-foot Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde sailed into Greenwich Harbor. A fitting birthday celebration for America. G

1 Tom Galvin, Anne Barton 2 The reenactors in all their glory 3 Lilly, Carol and William Cadou 4 The Tall Ships in Greenwich Harbor 5 Stephanie Dunn Ashley, Sen. Richard Blumenthal 6 Sibley Wales, Michael Wales, Henry Nesel, Tom Nesel 7 Alexis Zuniga, Susan Maher, Daniel Suozzo 8 Barbara Johann, Susan Maher 9 Kathy Will, Anne O’Rourke 10 Karen and David DeWahl 11 Sally Lawrence, Davidde Strackbein

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/CARA GILBRIDE

Baldwin Park

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12 Jenny and Bill Davis 13 Eleanor Labine Somers, Karina Lovett 14 Jean Raben, Cathy Steel, Lynn Garelick 15 Sawyer Bedini, Henri Reindeau 16 Elle Ibrahim, Allie Hamilton, Cynthia Chang, Kathy Smith, Marcia Hamilton 17 Larry and Sally Lawrence 18 Ryan and Lucas Fox 19 Michael Zelenz, Jackie Wettenhall, Skip Parker 20 Annie Farrell, Captain Steve Sanna, Sammy Farrell 21 Alexa Cervantes, Cecile Meunier 22 Bea Crumbine, Fred Camillo 23 Ivy and Heidi Hillman NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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vows by alison nichols gr ay

ELIZABETH BRECKENRIDGE HUTH & PETER WELSH KEEFE

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eter and Brecky grew up just a few towns apart in Connecticut and even attended Elon University at the same time, where they shared mutual friends and frequented many of the same places—but somehow never met. Years later they met in New York City through Hinge. The connection was instant, and the rest, as they say, is history! After three years together, Peter proposed on the 18th green at the Country Club of Fairfield, where his family have been longtime members. He told Brecky they were heading to a party, so she even showed up with a gift in hand. After she said yes, their families and friends were waiting to celebrate with them. The groom’s best friend, Thomas Babington, officiated the ceremony at the bride’s family home in Riverside. Following the ceremony, guests were led by The Minute Men band down Club Road to Riverside Yacht Club for the reception. The bride, daughter of Henry and Barbara (Boo) Huth of Greenwich, graduated from Westminster School and Elon University. Brecky works in marketing for Dentsu in New York. The groom, son of Matthew and Gretchen Keefe of Fairfield, graduated from Canterbury School and Elon University. Peter works in Asset Management for Silvercrest Asset Management in New York. The newlyweds honeymooned in Kenya and Tanzania. They live in Manhattan with their dog, Millie. G

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1 Sealed with kiss 2 The Keefe and Huth families 3 Donna Moffly, Boo Huth, Sharon Platter 4 The groom with his parents Gretchen and Matt Keefe 5 Parker Murphy, Caroline Wortman, Brecky, Isabelle Jeffrey, Charlotte Jeffrey 6 Brecky and Peter 7 Allie, Michael and Cary Keigher 8 The couple’s dog, Millie

LAURA FOOTE

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9 The Huth and Fox families 10 Brecky and Peter heading to their reception 11 Greenwich Country Day School alumni 12 Elon alumni enjoying an impromptu reunion 13 Muffy Fox, Beverly Johnson, Sharon Platter, Laurie Jeffrey, Boo Huth, Alice Ruf, Betsy Murphy, Bobbi Hanson 14 Kathy Slocumn, Charles Moller, Bridget Slocumn 15 The Minute Men welcoming guests 16 Brecky and Peter with their bridesmaids and groomsmen, just 29 besties! 17 Brecky and Peter cut the cake 18 The newlyweds NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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LIGHT A FIRE 2026

Ins iring Change by jill johnson mann • photography by katharine calderwood seating courtesy of object refinery, Stamford

m e et t he ne ighb ors whose passion for service i s m ak i ng a l ast ing difference in our c ommun it y

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mong this year’s honorees of Moffly Media’s annual Light a Fire awards is a modern-day lighthouse keeper. “Lighthouses have this almost universal ability to inspire people,” says Alex Pettee, the man keeping the light shining bright at Greens Ledge Lighthouse. “Lighthouses have always represented safety, guidance and perseverance,” says his father, Timothy. The same can be said of our Light a Fire winners. They are beacons of hope for the community and lifesavers for those among us struggling rough waters in life or feeling lost at sea. One is an 11-year-old whose heart broke for a young male figure skater being bullied because of his passion; she had to take a stand. Several are immigrants who never forgot the kindness showered on them in their new country, and so they have devoted themselves to giving back to others in need. One turned losing her mom at 19 into

a mission that has furthered female cancer diagnosis and provided financial relief to women with breast cancer. One left finance in her early thirties so she could change lives instead. Others are helping seniors, teaching teens, feeding the hungry and teaching men that asking for help with their mental health is a sign of strength, not weakness. Their beams of light are criss-crossing our communities and beyond like steady, reassuring signals from a lighthouse. They are awesome. And they have a message for their neighbors, which honoree Kendall Webb sums up perfectly: “It’s easy to think, What difference can I possibly make? But one of the things I’ve learned through this work is that you don’t have to solve the whole problem to change the direction of someone’s life. A relatively small amount of help at the right moment can make an enormous difference.”

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ALEX PETTEE

LEIGH KENNEDY

DR. INNA LAZAR

PETER EDER

KENDALL WEBB

KAILE ZAGGER

TOM TAMBERRINO

AUDREY LAM-DANBACK

ROBERTA "BOBBY" ANDERSON

EVAN DUNNE NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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DR. INNA LAZAR {    }

INSPIRATION

Inna Lazar came to the U.S. from Ukraine as a child. “My family had to build a new life from the beginning. That experience has stayed with me. I know how much it means to have opportunities, support and people who care as you find your way,” she says. Dr. Lazar went on to attend medical school and build a successful practice. As her practice grew, she wanted to find a way to lend support to those in need. “Becoming a mother made that desire even more personal,” says Dr. Lazar. “I think about how much we all want our children to feel supported and have every chance to thrive. Being able to ease even one worry for another parent feels like a meaningful way to give back.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Dr. Lazar founded Eyecare from the Heart to provide comprehensive eye exams, glasses and myopia management for children who might otherwise go without this essential care. “It began with a simple belief: Every child deserves to see clearly, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances,” says Dr. Lazar. “A child may not know that the way they see the world could be different. They may simply think reading is difficult or that the board at school is supposed to look blurry. Having the opportunity to help change that to make their day a little easier, and their world a little clearer, is something I never take for granted.”

O R GA N I Z AT I O N

Eyecare From The Heart

To date, 28 children, primarily from Greenwich, have benefitted from Eyecare from the Heart. “Especially meaningful to me is that 11 of those children have received myopia management treatment to help slow the progression of their nearsightedness and protect their vision for the future,” says Dr. Lazar.

HOPES & DREAMS

“My hope is that we can reach more children and make it easier for families to ask for and receive the care they need,” says Dr. Lazar. “I would love to strengthen our relationships with schools and community organizations so that parents know we are here. As a mother, it is difficult to imagine knowing your child needs care and worrying about how you will afford it. If we can help lift that burden, that means so much to me. My dream is to keep building on that work with care and compassion, helping more children see clearly today while caring for their vision for the years ahead.”

Words of Praise

“Dr. Inna Lazar is that rare combination of heart, head and hands. She is a true triple threat: an expert in her craft, an elite communicator with a spirit of generosity infused throughout her practice. Eyecare From the Heart is also quite unique, as there are not many nonprofits that cover advanced eyecare in and for a community setting. Eyecare From the Heart, supercharged by a Pitch Your Peers $25,000 grant last year, is already hard at work in our hometown, improving eyes— and lives— right here in Greenwich.” — N i n a L i n d i a , Pres i d e n t , P i t c h Yo u r Pe e rs

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AUDREY LAM-DANBACK O R GA N I ZAT I O N

{    }

Skate Against Hate

INSPIRATION

Eleven-year-old Audrey Lam-Danback has been skating competitively for three years. “I fell in love with skating when I was six years old and stepped onto the ice for the first time at the Greenwich Skating Club,” she says. “The ice is a place where I can express myself, feel the music and just be me.” It’s a feeling she believes everyone deserves. When Audrey learned that a friend was being bullied on the ice, she knew she had to do something. “He’s an amazing male figure skater. He was being bullied simply because he was a boy who loved figure skating, and that really bothered me,” says Audrey. “Then I went to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan with my family, and that made an even bigger impression on me. I saw athletes from so many different countries and backgrounds all coming together because they loved their sport. It made me think about what I could do in my own skating community.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

“I came up with the idea of putting on an ice show to raise money and awareness,” explains Audrey. “I started reaching out to skaters and organizations in the skating community. We needed a rink, skaters to perform, a website and a way to get everyone to come! I was amazed by how many people wanted to help.” The Skate Against Hate ice show last April raised more than $20,000 for anti-hate and antibullying efforts, with proceeds donated to the American Ice Theatre, which uses skating to promote artistic expression, inclusion and community engagement. “We had 25 skaters

volunteer to perform, including some incredible professional skaters, and more than 100 people came to support us,” says Audrey. Since the exhibition, Skate Against Hate has raised another $15,000—giving Audrey an even bigger platform to show that there’s no place for bullying in skating.

HOPES & DREAMS

Audrey is already planning the 2027 event and has big dreams for both the cause and herself. She hopes to see Skate Against Hate expand to other states, countries and even sports. She also hopes “to create a scholarship foundation for kids who love figure skating but might not have the money to pursue it.” For herself, she says, “the Olympics would be my ultimate dream, but I also never want to get so focused on results that I forget how much I just love being on the ice.”

Words of Praise

“Watching Audrey stand in front of a large crowd and speak so confidently and sincerely about the importance of acceptance, kindness and making sure everyone feels like they belong was so moving. Seeing an 11-year-old not only recognize a problem, but have the courage to use her voice and bring a community together around it, was incredibly powerful.” — J a n e Le h n

NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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TOM TAMBERRINO & EVAN DUNNE

{     }

O R GA N I ZAT I O N

Wave Strong Foundation

INSPIRATION

“A month before my fourth birthday, my dad died by suicide,” says Darien resident Evan Dunne. When several Darien teenagers died by suicide in 2022, Dunne saw it as a wake-up call. As a Wave Strong board member, he is passionate about breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and helping teens and men understand that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. “We have a chance to change young people’s lives and trajectories,” he says. For fellow Wave Strong board member Tom Tamberrino, the organization’s mission is deeply personal. After struggling with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and anxiety, Tom attempted suicide in June 2024. Following treatment at Silver Hill Hospital and Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, he made a full recovery. “Wave Strong’s mission is very personal to me,” he says. Changing the stigma starts with changing the language. “People die from cancer and they die from suicide; they don’t ‘commit’ suicide,” he emphasizes. “Having been to that breaking point, it’s not a personal decision; it’s the disease’s decision.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Tamberrino and Dunne have been instrumental in creating men’s

events that bring Wave Strong’s message to life. “We have had speakers from sports stars to everyday people like us,” says Dunne. “The event that sticks out most to me is the Boys Will Be Men talk with Vince Benevento. We had a room full of men, from teens to men with teen sons. There was a group of young men in the front row, completely locked into the conversation, opening up and allowing themselves to be vulnerable. This is what it’s all about.” Tamberrino adds, “Community is the medicine.” He recalls a men’s event the duo organized at Ox Ridge Hunt Club and the flood of messages afterwards from men who had thought they were alone in their struggles. “You don’t need to go to a golf club, drink beers and talk about the Knicks or Yankees. You can grab a cup of coffee with another man and talk about your feelings. You can talk about feeling vulnerable or pressured.” Wave Strong is also bringing these conversations to younger generations. High school students in the Wave Strong Club provide peer-to-peer programming for middle schoolers at the Depot in Darien. Tamberrino is grateful that his own children are learning these lessons early. He points to a talk Dunne organized for the Darien High School football team featuring Ryan Leaf, a former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate who has spoken openly about addiction,

incarceration and recovery. Today, Leaf is a football broadcaster and lives in Connecticut with his wife and children. For Tamberrino, Leaf’s story is another reminder that vulnerability, connection and asking for help can change the course of a life.

HOPES & DREAMS “I want our community to have a greater sense of courage to help those who don’t ask for help and empower people to know they can ask,” says Evan. Tom adds, “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. That’s the message I hope everyone understands. Whatever it is you’re going through—your girlfriend broke up with you, you were catfished and are being blackmailed, you’re bankrupt—all

of that is temporary. I hope we can demonstrate that raising your hand—asking for help—is the new strength.”

Words of Praise “The mental health tides have turned in Darien in a very positive way,” says Laura Bremer, CoFounder of the Wave Strong Foundation. “We are openly talking, sharing and supporting our residents with the determination to reach those who need us most. Tom and Evan have made a massive impact in such a short time.”

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KENDALL WEBB {   }

O R GA N I Z AT I O N S

Charity Bridge Fund, TisBest, ClassACT, Americares, Weston EMS, Nurturing Minds, SEGA, SquashBridge, Fresh Air Fund

INSPIRATION

“I grew up in a privileged town in Connecticut, but my life has taken me into communities very different from the one I knew growing up—from prisons and lower-income neighborhoods to communities facing extreme poverty in India, South Africa and Tanzania,” explains Kendall Webb. “I met people working multiple jobs and doing everything they could for their families while living with very little margin for error; one missed paycheck, illness or unexpected expense could have real consequences,” she says. “In the midst of all of that, there was family, humor, generosity and enormous strength. I often came away thinking less about what people lacked and more about how much community they had—and how much they still found to give.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

At 22, Webb landed a “dream” job at Goldman Sachs, but stepped away from finance at 34 so she could find her version of success: making a difference in people’s lives. “In 1998, I founded JustGive, one of the first online giving platforms, which went on to help raise more than $600 million for charity,” explains Webb. She also created Charity Gift Cards and serves on the board of TisBest. More recently, she founded Charity Bridge Fund to highlight nonprofit programs threatened by federal funding and policy changes—and connect donors to where help is most needed. She also launched ClassACT—Achieving Change

Words of Praise

“In my many years working in business and volunteering in the nonprofit sector, I don’t think I’ve met anyone who has done more for the welfare of children, women in Third World countries or to enhance the lives of others around the world and on our own doorstep, than Kendall Webb.” — A d r i a Pe a r l - Be l p o r t

Together—at Harvard, connecting alumni to work together for social good. Webb is a volunteer nurse at an Americares free clinic in Bridgeport and an EMT in her hometown of Weston. As an EMT, she says, “You meet people at some of the hardest moments of their lives, and quickly learn not to define someone by the moment you happen to meet them in. Someone struggling with addiction, for example, isn’t ‘an addict.’ They’re a person with a story you don’t know.” In 2008, Webb joined Nurturing Minds to help launch SEGA, a girl’s boarding school in Tanzania. She served on the board for more than 15 years, including as Chair. She also serves on the founding board of SquashBridge, an afterschool program in Bridgeport and has mentored a Norwalk student and welcomed a Fresh Air Fund child into her home.

HOPES & DREAMS

“I hope we continue to strengthen the nonprofit sector in this country—and that people understand just how important it is. If we lose the programs that help people stay healthy, employed, housed, fed and supported, relatively manageable problems can become much larger crises,” says Webb. “It’s easy to think, What difference can I possibly make? But one of the things I’ve learned through this work is that you don’t have to solve the whole problem to change the direction of someone’s life. A relatively small amount of help at the right moment can make an enormous difference.”

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{      }

LEIGH KENNEDY

O R GA N I Z AT I O N

Horizons at New Canaan Country Day School

INSPIRATION

“What inspires me most is seeing the mission of Horizons in action,” says Leigh Kennedy. She loves seeing students’ energy and excitement on campus each summer and volunteering alongside a staff that is “always thinking about new enrichment and ways to increase learning, while the kids are just being kids and having fun.” Each June Leigh tries to attend the graduation ceremony, which deepens her passion for the program. “Some of the students have been part of the program since they were in kindergarten,” she says. “At the ceremony, they each share a special memory and a person who has had an impact. It really brings home just how meaningful all the traditions and relationships are to the students.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Horizons at New Canaan Country Day School (NCCS) addresses significant academic and economic opportunity gaps for over 350 underresourced K–12 students from Norwalk and Stamford each year through tuition-free summer programming, one-to-one tutoring, Saturday events and college and career prep. For Kennedy and her family, Horizons is a deep-rooted commitment. Long before she joined the board in 2020, Kennedy and her husband, Phil, were steadfast supporters. Their children followed suit, working as a teaching assistant and volunteer. Each summer, the Kennedys also open their backyard pool to Horizons students and families for recreational swimming and

lessons for children and their caregivers. Leigh served as Horizons Vice Chair and then became Board Chair in 2024. “With each year, I’ve continued to learn more about the dedication and commitment that the leaders and partners—from the donors to our host school, New Canaan Country School— bring to Horizons year after year,” she says. “As Board Chair, my primary goal was to build on that tradition. We have a large board filled with smart, committed family and faculty representatives, and a goal for me was to make sure that everyone felt heard and had opportunities to contribute.”

HOPES & DREAMS

“My hope is that the magic of the Horizons community continues for many years to come,” says Leigh. “We have teachers and staff members who have been part of the program for 10, some over 20, years, and it is clear how much they care about Horizons and, more importantly, about the kids. I want every student to feel that same love and sense of belonging, and to know they are fully supported in achieving whatever they set their minds to.”

Words of Praise

“Leigh Kennedy is the embodiment of the Moffly Media Light a Fire Award. As the Board Chair (2024-2026) of Horizons at New Canaan Country School, Leigh combines visionary leadership with hands-on, heartfelt service. Leigh shows up to every event with a smile, ready to work and advocate for the Horizons at NCCS students and their families. It is impossible to imagine where Horizons at NCCS would be without her selflessness, strategic focus and the countless volunteer hours she pours into our mission.” — W h i t n ey M a l l oz z i , D i re c t o r of Co m m u n i c a t i o n s , D eve l o p m e n t a n d G ra n t s, H o r i zo n s a t N e w C a n a a n Co u n t r y Sc h o o l greenwichmag.com

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PETER EDER {     }

O R GA N I ZAT I O N S

AARP, St. John Church, Darien Library, VITA

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), providing free tax preparation to those who need it. “This includes managing appointments and ensuring proper document preparation,” explains Eder. With AARP training and 22 days of volunteer work this year alone, Eder helped prepare more than 650 filers. Eder’s commitment to his community extends well beyond AARP. He volunteers at St. John Church and serves on the Darien Commission on Aging. As a founding board member of At Home in Darien, he helps seniors remain in their homes and connected to their community with dignity and independence. He also helps organize Met Opera rebroadcasts at Darien Library, creating meaningful and enriching cultural experiences, particularly for older adults.

INSPIRATION

The seeds of inspiration for Peter Eder’s fruitful life were planted at 219 Audubon Avenue, a six-story apartment building a few blocks from the George Washington Bridge. He and his family landed in Washington Heights during World War II, joining Orthodox Jewish refugees, young Cuban and Puerto Rican families seeking work and first-generation Irish and Italian families. “These neighbors welcomed my immigrant Viennese father, his Bavarian farm wife and my older brother and me to a true melting pot.” Eder recalls. “From the very beginning, they helped us not just in learning the language, responsibilities and customs, but in gaining an awareness and appreciation of the joy and benefits of an intergenerational and multicultural society.”

HOPES & DREAM

Eder hopes people will recognize the value of intergenerational communities, “from the smallest, basic gathering of family and neighbors to the wider communities we all reside in,” and rediscover “the benefits and the beauty of ‘the common good.’” He also encourages people to embrace “the unselfish support of others” and recognize the value caregiving brings to both those receiving care and those providing it.

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Through his extensive work with AARP, Peter has made a meaningful impact on issues affecting seniors across Connecticut and the country. His dedication and service were recognized with the prestigious AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. “My AARP volunteering has ranged from signing folks into events, acting as a moderator for panel discussions and doing media interviews to organizing and lobbying legislators on important issues,” says Eder. In 2021, he helped Connecticut become the 15th state to guarantee virtual visitation and monitoring in care facilities—a need especially critical during the pandemic. For the past 10 tax seasons, Eder has volunteered with the IRS

Words of Praise

“Peter has long been a passionate advocate for seniors, championing legislation, programs and community initiatives that support older adults and help them remain active, connected and independent. What makes Peter especially deserving of the Light a Fire Award is not simply the breadth of his volunteer work, but the consistency, humility and humanity with which he carries it out. He is tireless in his commitment to seniors, approaching every effort with kindness, patience and genuine care. Peter has enriched the lives of countless people in Darien and beyond.” — C h r i s J o n es , At H o m e i n D a r i e n

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ALEX PETTEE {    }

INSPIRATION

When Greens Ledge Lighthouse went up for auction in 2016, a group of local residents—including Tim and Alex Pettee—placed the winning bid. What began as an unlikely purchase soon became a mission: The group formed the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society and set out to restore the historic beacon. Today, Alex Pettee is a modern-day lightkeeper, helping ensure that Greens Ledge continues to shine over Long Island Sound. “Finance is my day job at Hoya Capital, but I’ve always had an engineer’s and entrepreneur’s mindset,” says Alex. “Greens Ledge has been a perfect outlet for that. Every challenge is a little different, from historic restoration and marine construction to transportation, environmental monitoring and figuring out how to build a sustainable nonprofit model around a lighthouse in the middle of Long Island Sound.” That sense of purpose extends beyond the work itself. “Lighthouses also have this almost universal ability to inspire people,” says Alex.

COURAGE INTO ACTION

The group acquired the lighthouse a few years after it had been pummeled by Hurricanes Sandy and Irene. “The immediate goal was simply to save the lighthouse,” says Alex. “Since then, we’ve completed a major restoration, built the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society into an all-volunteer nonprofit and transformed the lighthouse from a deteriorating offshore landmark into an active community resource.” Public access and educational programming have been expanded and partnerships with local schools and environmental organizations have “turned the lighthouse into a real-world science platform for monitoring Long Island Sound,” says Alex. “This year, we also launched our new passenger

O R GA N I Z AT I O N

Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society

vessel, the Lightkeeper Charlie Erdmann, to bring students, researchers, volunteers and members of the community out to the lighthouse.”

HOPES & DREAMS

“My dream is for Greens Ledge to become one of the great examples of what historic preservation can look like in the 21st century,” says Alex. “Preservation is much more meaningful and sustainable when a place continues to have an active purpose. I’d love to see thousands of students experience the Lighthouse as an outdoor classroom, researchers use it to better understand Long Island Sound, and more people from our community have the opportunity to step inside a landmark they’ve seen their entire lives.” He adds, “Ultimately, I hope Greens Ledge continues to bring people together and connect our history with education, science and community.”

Words of Praise

“Alex embodies the spirit of a lighthouse keeper—quietly, consistently and selflessly ensuring that Greens Ledge Lighthouse continues to serve as a beacon for the community. He has devoted countless volunteer hours to preserving one of Connecticut’s most iconic maritime landmarks, often working behind the scenes without seeking recognition. Alex has played a significant role in protecting an important piece of New England maritime history so future generations can appreciate and learn from it.” — T i m o t hy Pe t t e e ( A l ex ’s fa t h e r, p res i d e n t , G re e n s L e d ge L i g h t Pre s e r va t i o n So c i e t y) . greenwichmag.com

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ROBERTA ANDERSON {    }

“BOBBY” O R GA N I ZAT I O N

Catholic Charities Stamford: Home of New Covenant Center

INSPIRATION

“Every person deserves to be seen, welcomed and treated with dignity,” says Bobby Anderson. “I believe in a God who calls us to care for one another, especially the least among us. For me, food is a language of love. A warm meal can nourish the body, but the welcome that comes with it can nourish the spirit.” At Catholic Charities Stamford: Home of New Covenant Center, Bobby sees that philosophy come to life every day. She has witnessed how “small acts of kindness become something much larger when we do them together. I often think of the child on the beach who throws one starfish at a time back into the ocean. We may not be able to solve every problem, but we can make a difference for the person standing in front of us,” she says.

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Anderson began volunteering at Catholic Charities 30 years ago. For the past three years, she has helped develop the New Covenant Center’s breakfast program, which has grown from serving about 30 guests each morning to about 120 guests. “Together with the ‘breakfast bunch’—an incredible group of volunteers—we prepare meals, creatively use Food Rescue donations and make sure that

every morning begins with both nourishment and a welcoming presence,” she explains. For Anderson, the mission is not to simply serve food; it’s about building relationships. “One morning, when I told a man he was our last guest, he replied, ‘I am not a guest; I am family.’ That moment captured what we are trying to create,” she says.

HOPES & DREAMS

“My hope is that Catholic Charities Stamford continues to be a place where people experiencing hardship are not defined by their circumstances, but are recognized for their humanity and welcomed with compassion, dignity and a smile,” says Bobby. “As we settle into a new state-of-the-art space, I know we will continue building a stronger, more connected community—one where everyone feels seen, known and cared for. Together—with compassion, dignity, generosity and a smile—we can make a difference. Let us keep volunteering—one meal, one conversation and one act of kindness at a time. Let us be the people who see the person in front of us, reach out a hand and refuse to believe that any life is beyond hope. Together, we can do more than serve a community; we can become the community we hope to see: one family, caring for one another, until everyone has a place at the table.”

Words of Praise

“Bobby Anderson has been a dedicated volunteer for over 30 years. Bobby leads breakfast every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, preparing and serving robust and delicious meals to our guests. Once a month, she prepares and serves lunch alongside her church group. She is also always willing to lend a hand in the food pantry. Bobby considers our guests to be part of her family, and that love and care can be seen in the way she shows up for them day after day. On any given day, you can find Bobby somewhere at New Covenant Center, simply asking, ‘What needs to be done?’” — Au d ra H es s i o n , D eve l o p m e n t O f f i c e r, C a t h o l i c C h a r i t i es S t a m fo rd : H o m e of N e w Cove n a n t Ce n t e r NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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KAILE ZAGGER {    }

O R GA N I Z AT I O N

Pink Aid

INSPIRATION

“I was thirteen when my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and nineteen when I held her hand for the last time,” says Kaile Zagger. “Those six tender, difficult years shaped the woman I would become. I came to know illness in all its cruelty, yet I also witnessed a grace that lives in me still: a gentle circle of women, friends and neighbors who carried us when we could no longer carry ourselves. That is where my devotion to giving back quietly took root.” With generations of breast and ovarian cancer in her family, Kaile received her own cancer diagnosis this year. “Once again, I was cradled by remarkable people, a beautiful community and boundless love,” she says. “I try to give back so that every woman walking through her most fragile season may feel that same embrace.”

COURAGE INTO ACTION

Kaile’s mother’s cancer was misdiagnosed and, thirty-two years later, that issue continues. “Women’s cancers are still too often overlooked or discovered too late,” says Kaile. “Ovarian cancer rarely speaks aloud; it whispers through back pain, bloating and subtle shifts, and a few thoughtful questions about symptoms and family history can alter the course of a life.” Kaile spearheaded a program, the MAT Designation, named for her mother (Marilyn Ann Trahan), which she describes as “a rigorous course and examination that helps physicians recognize women’s cancers early.” This work has been honored with two proclamations from the state of Connecticut. Another burden of cancer is “financial toxicity. One in four women must step away from

work or reduce her hours, and even with private insurance, costs rise by an average of $600 a month,” says Kaile. She knows; she endured three major surgeries in six months. “I witnessed firsthand how swiftly the costs of healing gather, from nourishment to hyperbaric therapy to lymphatic care, most of it unreimbursed. Too many women are forced to choose between healing and life’s simplest essentials.” This is why Kaile is passionate about Pink Aid, a Westport-based organization with a mission to close that gap. Pink Aid has delivered more than $6 million in emergency financial aid to breast cancer patients since 2015. Now Kaile, who is Global Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences at Riveron, has founded the Visionary Circle, a corporate healthcare advisory council, to help advance Pink Aid’s mission.

HOPES & DREAMS

“Pink Aid is at capacity, unable to serve many deserving women, while 180,000 await emergency support,” laments Kaile. “I envision the Visionary Circle as the heart of our next chapter: a community of accomplished leaders who will help us grow our resources exponentially, deepen our corporate partnerships and extend our reach to the places where women are suffering most. My dream is a world in which no woman must choose between her health and her family’s stability.”

Words of Praise

“Kaile Zagger is a true force. We are incredibly fortunate to have her championing Pink Aid’s mission. Through her leadership in launching the Visionary Circle, Kaile is opening doors to new corporate partnerships and collaboration with world-class thought leaders. Kaile aims to expand Pink Aid’s national reach. Her passion, generosity and determination to turn her own challenges into meaningful change are truly inspiring.” — Co u r t n ey Pr u s s i n , P i n k A i d Boa rd M e m b e r greenwichmag.com

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State of Giving in Fairfield County Light a Fire is back! Reimagined and ready to spark what’s next. This year’s

event amplifies a simple truth: we’re Better Together when individuals, towns and organizations collaborate to solve challenges bigger than any one effort alone. Enjoy an Evening featuring: • Networking Cocktail Reception with nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, foundation officers and dedicated community members • Exclusive “Future of Giving” Fireside Chat with Mendi Blue Paca, President & CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation • 2026 Light a Fire Honoree Awards Celebration, hosted by actor and director James Naughton

Every ticket directly supports the Light a Fire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) improving the lives of Fairfield County residents with a focus on children, women and immigrants. Sponsored by

Scan here for event and ticket information. Or, visit MofflyLifestyleMedia.com/LightAFire

Scan me

2026

2024 Light a Fire event. Photography by Kyle Norton

LIGHT A FIRE

Tues, Nov 10, 2026 | 6PM | New Canaan Library

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the

AERIAL: MICHAEL STEMPIAN OF THE GREENWICH DRONE; COURTESY OF GLT

promised

An aerial view of Shell Island, the five-acre waterfront preserve donated to the Greenwich Land Trust by Julius Silver in 1990. Sandy beaches, salt marshes and forested slopes provide habitat for nesting seabirds and other wildlife. In the early 20th century, the island was a summer residence, providing decades of enjoyment, for August and Mary Eimer and their family. The Eimers were known for hosting friends and relatives at their summer home, complete with gardens, fruit trees and even a tennis court, where everyone would partake in summer fun.

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Lapham Preserve offers a glimpse of the open meadows, woodlands and trails that make up Greenwich’s network of protected natural spaces.

lands

HOW SOME OF THE MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE IN AMERICA HAS BEEN PROMISED, BEQUEATHED, TRANSFERRED AND PRESERVED AS OPEN MEADOWS, WOODS, STREAMS AND TRAILS FOR GREENWICH RESIDENTS TO ENJOY FOREVER by tom connor

hen the frenzied period of great estate building in Greenwich was over by the 1930s, the titans of industry and finance had transformed the once-agricultural countryside into their version of British country houses. If the mansions they erected were monuments to their outrageous good fortunes, it was the land surrounding them that conferred a certain special status: It was one thing to erect manor houses the size of hotels, quite another to do so on properties so sprawling that they could only be seen from the air. Yet in amassing hundreds, even thousands, of acres surrounding their country houses, what the lords of the manors left behind were assets of greater, and longer-lasting, value than the manors: The land around and beneath them. At the same time, they also created a culture of success and wealth that bestowed on Greenwich its status and very identity. It may well be that the landed Greenwich gentry of the day had a sense of noblesse oblige in handing down land to their heirs, but also in leaving it the institutions that would keep it in its natural, undeveloped state for future generations to enjoy. Today, as property values in Greenwich routinely rank among the highest in the state and the country, nonprofit organizations like The Greenwich Land Trust have saved over a thousand acres from development, preserving it for current and future generations and keeping Greenwich “Greenwich.”

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“ takes generosity and It philanthropy,but it also takes a love of the land, for now and for generations to come!."

above: A deer moves through the woods at Converse Brook Preserve, a 72-acre property acquired by the Greenwich Land Trust in partnership with the Town of Greenwich in 2021.opposite page: From above, Lapham Preserve reveals the mix of meadow, woodland and open space preserved for wildlife and public enjoyment.

PHOTOS: CONVERSE WALK WAY BY ALEX TAYLOR; COURTESY OF GLT

Will Kies, Executive Director of The Greenwich Land Trust

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DOWN ON CONYERS FARM The last great estate in town—in fact, arguably the greatest sprawl of undeveloped land in Fairfield County in the past half century—was Conyers Farm, a 1,434-acre estate stitched together from dozens of small farms beginning in 1904 by steel magnate and banker Edmund C. Converse and modeled on classic British country manors and estates. (“Conyers” is the ancestral spelling of the family name Converse.) According to the Greenwich Historic Society, in its heyday the vast property included a 52-room manor house overlooking much of the grounds and Long Island Sound; cottages for family and staff, and housing for other employees; a clock tower and extensive gardens, greenhouses and the 100-acre Converse Lake that provided water to the estate. After Converse’s death in 1921, the once-grand manor house and dozens of outbuildings gradually fell into disrepair and the fields and orchards grew wild. What remained, of course, was the land on which they had resided. For beneath the decades of weeds and fallen trees and saplings lay over 1,000 acres in Connecticut and 400-plus across the state line into Westchester County, New York, of immensely desirable land. In 1972, father and son entrepreneurs Murray and Peter Brant, along with business partner Joseph Allen, purchased Conyers Farm for $18 million (a steal, one might think, before adjusting for the cumulative inflation rate that would put its purchasing power today at close to $140 million!) After carving up the old estate into large parcels for themselves, the partners’ plan was to develop an elite, gated equestrian community in line with the town’s image. Although under zoning regulations of the day the property could have been subdivided into several hundred two- and -four-acre building lots, the Town of Greenwich worked with the Brants and Mr. Allen on establishing a number of strict covenants, easements and restrictions governing the development. Among them were a 175-acre wildlife preserve that would also serve as watershed protection; wetland and stream buffers; and an extensive network of private bridle and hiking trails that would connect with Greenwich’s broader trail system.

IN LAND WE TRUST Even so, the loss of open space to urban and suburban sprawl in Connecticut in the late-1960s and early-1970s, coinciding with a national environmental movement, gave rise to local grassroots land preservation organizations, says Amy Paterson, a land-use attorney in the state for more than 20 NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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years before becoming the first director of The Connecticut Land Trust. That organization was created in 2010 on the foundation of a number of earlier, state-based preservation nonprofits. Land trusts serve multiple purposes. They conserve land in perpetuity; they guarantee long-term commitment to stewardship of those lands; they advocate for the land at the local political level; and they connect people to the

land and to each other. By the 1980s, some 60 to 70 local land trusts were up and running, including The Greenwich Land Trusts (GLT). “Greenwich ticked all the boxes,” Paterson says, referencing those purposes. “It is permanently protecting the places that make their community special, and not just for Greenwich but for the entire region to thrive.” Formed in 1976, the trust has worked in

concert with large land preservation organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society, along with the Town of Greenwich, in saving more than 1,000 acres from developers in every part of the town, from an island and slices of the shoreline to large, untouched swaths of meadows and woodlands in mid-country and backcountry Greenwich. This past September, the GLT celebrated its 50th anniversary, a milestone proclaimed by First Selectman Fred Camillo and accompanied by a tree planting ceremony, speeches and a champagne toast. The event also marked the launch of the Trust’s 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign, to support the protection of local, biodiverse land and native wildlife, and the future of Greenwich’s scenic landscapes. (Fittingly, the GLT offices are located on the Mueller Preserve, a landmark four-acre property on the corner of Old Mill Road and Round Hill Road that was donated to the Trust in 2012.)

PHOTOS: SHELL ISLAND BY MICHAEL STEMPIAN OF THE GREENWICH DRONE; COURTESY OF GLT

above, left: A trail marker at Converse Brook Preserve points the way through the 72-acre preserve, part of a larger network of connected open space. above, right: Shell Island Preserve is often informally referred to as Tower Island, due to the prominent 60-foot tower visible from a distance. left: The polo field at Conyers Farm is transformed for the Greenwich Land Trust’s annual Go Wild event, which raises funds for land conservation.

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“ I think much of the beauty of G reenwich is that we've preserved its natural features. " Louisa Stone, former president of The Greenwich Land Trust

Over the years, GLT has sought or simply been gifted with a number of large or significant land donations. In 1990, Julius Silver donated Shell Island, a rare, waterfront, five-acre haven for nesting seabirds and occasional resting spot for sea turtles and seals. The preserve features sandy beaches, salt marshes, forested slopes and a 60-foot tower. In 2001, the Trust was part of a grassroots campaign to save Treetops, a 94-acre public nature preserve on the Greenwich-Stamford border abutting the 391-acre Mianis River Park. It was formerly the private estate and home of Broadway torch singer and social activist Libby Holman. And, in 2021, the Greenwich Land Trust acquired the 72-acre Converse Brook Preserve in partnership with the Town of Greenwich, at an unprecedented, below-market price from the Aquarian Water Company. The acquisition enhances an existing greenway totaling more than 800 acres of open space. Big donations of land are gratefully accepted by GLT and honored by the stewardship the Trust extends to all properties. But more critical to its long-term goals are the strategically-positioned gifts that connect relatively small pieces to one another, and to the big preserves held and maintained by larger organizations like the Connecticut Land Trust and the Nature Conservancy. Meanwhile, these kinds of mindful acquisition suggest a great good. “It creates this mosaic of conservation properties—this chain and long corridors—that have an ecological benefit,” says Will Kies, Executive Director of The Greenwich Land Trust. “As we look at new acquisitions, we always start by asking, ‘Is it adjacent or near an existing GLP property?,’ because that makes it all that more important.”

GREENWAYS One of the speakers at the September 9th celebration was Louisa Stone, a former president of the board of the Greenwich Land Trust and first recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. Stone, 95, has lived on Sterling Road and the northern boundary of the Greenwich Audubon Center for 60 years. She and her late husband, Emerson, settled there on eight and a half acres of rugged, rocky land and wetlands; the house they built lies 60 feet above a branch of the Byrum River and features an exposed bedrock boulder in the living room. What perhaps most distinguishes the property, however, is what’s no longer theirs. In 1998, in a gift that exemplifies the strategic planning behind GLT’s success, the Stone family donated half of the property to the Greenwich Land Trust (Emerson Stone died in 2014; a longtime CBS newsman, journalist and conservationist, he served as founding chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Sierra Club and chairman of the Town of Greenwich Land Acquisition Committee, among other civic positions). In doing so, the gift joined two earlier donations to create the Sargent-Gildersleeve-Stone Preserve—a continuous, 18.5-acre greenway of rocky ridges, woodlands, meadows and wetlands that feed additional branches of the Byrum River and connect with National Audubon property. “I think much of the beauty of Greenwich is that we've preserved its natural features,” Louisa notes of the donation. “I say Manhattan might have looked like this if they hadn't spoiled it by allowing the development of the wetlands!” What’s more, preservation looks much different than restoring property once it’s been developed. “Once land is gone, it's gone,” says Will Kies of The Greenwich Land Trust. “It's so hard to claw back an acre if already has a house on it or if the trees are cut down. It is just not the same

as protecting critical habitats and important open space parcels!”

“THEY AIN’T MAKIN’ IT ANYMORE” Just after the turn of the 20th century, Samuel Clemens—known worldwide as Mark Twain and the author of the classics Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—purchased a single parcel of 248 acres of land in Redding. As if to take the advice commonly attributed to him—“Buy land, they ain’t making it anymore!”—Clemens did just that, and in 1909, he bought an adjacent 150 acres of mixed farm and wooded land. Whether rightly attributed to Clemens or not (most likely not), sounder real estate advice has probably never been uttered. As of this past September, fewer than a dozen parcels of undeveloped residential land were on the market. According to local real estate agencies, they ranged in price and acreage from $3,250,000 for 5.13 acres in mid-country to $13,950,000 for 7.2 acres in backcountry Greenwich. But it may also be good advice to leave a part of an estate to preserve the image and legacy of the town that no doubt inspired the making of the money to acquire land in Greenwich in the first place. There are many reasons to give land back to the community in preparing to leave it, top among them taxes. But something less tangible may be in play. “It's such a personal thing to give a part or all of your property,” says Will Kies. “The desire to permanently conserve it through a land trust is often at the heart of why a couple or family would donate a property to us. “It takes generosity and philanthropy,” he adds, “but it also takes a love of the land, for now and for generations to come!”

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Your Family. Your Business. Your Charities. Your Wealth. Your Legacy. At Cummings & Lockwood, you receive sophisticated and carefully curated legal advice based on decades of experience and tailored to your specific goals, together with the personalized attention and elevated client experience you should expect from your professional advisors. n Private Clients | Trusts and Estates n Corporate and Finance n Family Offices and Closely Held Businesses n Fiduciary and Probate Litigation n Commercial Litigation n Residential and Commercial Real Estate

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Marriage. Children. A business that succeeds beyond expectations. A life that changes anyway. For Gold Coast families, protecting wealth means planning for the people—and possibilities—behind the numbers. by jonat ha n mof f ly (Note: The couple is fictional, as are the specific circumstances; the situations here are illustrative of the many stories we hear from friends and neighbors navigating the quiet life decisions, or lack of decisions, and their consequences. We asked some of our local legal experts for their thoughts.)

HALFTONE: ©MR AZ STOCK.ADOBE.COM

T

he first time Caroline Mercer thinks seriously about a prenuptial agreement, she is standing barefoot in her Darien kitchen, addressing wedding invitations. She is 32. Her fiancé, Daniel, works in corporate marketing. Her Stamford business, which helps companies manage complicated purchasing operations, employs six people. There is a modest inheritance from her grandmother, a mortgage and considerably more ambition than available cash. Daniel asks whether they should call a lawyer. Caroline hears something else: whether they believe this will last. Thirty years later, sitting in the same kitchen discussing how to divide a life neither considers a failure, she will remember that moment differently. The Mercers are fictional. Their questions will feel familiar across our Gold Coast towns. What happens when a business becomes the family’s largest asset? When

one parent steps back professionally? When children inherit opportunities they have not yet learned to manage? When a marriage ends just as retirement comes into view? A substantial balance sheet gives a family choices. Making those choices well requires conversations that money cannot have for you.

BEFORE THE WEDDING Caroline’s first instinct is to protect the company. Daniel’s is to avoid beginning their marriage as opposing parties. A useful conversation makes room for both. They need to discuss existing assets and debts, potential inheritances, the company’s future growth and what financial security might look like if one spouse eventually reduces paid work to raise children. “A prenup should discuss not just what happens with assets that exist at the time of the marriage, but assets that are acquired after the marriage,” says Kelly Scott of Pullman & Comley. “Nothing financial is off limits when

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revealing number may be the one a partner did not know existed.

WHEN THE BUSINESS BEGINS TO GROW

AFTER THE CHILDREN ARRIVE The Mercers have life insurance. They have college savings accounts. They have an increasingly elaborate calendar. Their wills still predate their son. Parenthood turns estate planning into a series of intimate decisions: Who would raise the children, who would manage their money and whether those should be the same person. “If both parents pass suddenly and there are minor children, there will need to be a guardian for the children and a trustee to manage the assets left for the children,” notes Lauren Davies of Pullman & Comley. “These roles can be filled by the same person or can be separated—in

©ROAD RED RUNNER STOCK.ADOBE.COM

it comes to discussions about a prenup, including what would happen in the event of a death rather than as a result of divorce.” Timing matters. Connecticut’s premarital-agreement law makes voluntariness, fair and reasonable financial disclosure, a reasonable opportunity to consult independent counsel and unconscionability central to enforceability. A document presented amid final wedding preparations invites precisely the pressure couples should avoid. “Don’t wait until right before the wedding to start a prenup,” advises Andrea Fraleigh of Mandelbaum Barrett. “That’s asking for trouble. It’s not enough time to negotiate, and it could subject the agreement to being challenged.” Caroline and Daniel each retain counsel. They discuss how business growth and future family responsibilities should be treated, rather than assuming today’s circumstances will last forever. For readers approaching marriage, the practical assignment is simple: prepare a complete financial inventory before negotiating provisions. Include guarantees, equity awards and ownership restrictions alongside account balances. Discuss what each person believes the agreement should accomplish. The most

By 40, Caroline has moved the company into larger Stamford offices. There are 40 employees, a second owner and clients whose names impress people at dinner. At home, Daniel has reduced his work schedule. Their daughter has arrived; a son follows. His flexibility makes Caroline’s travel possible. Their finances now depend on an enterprise that cannot simply be withdrawn from an account. “Succession is very, very important when it comes to businesses,” says Alessandra of Alessandra Messineo Long, LLC in Riverside. “When relying on that business to pay the bills, that business has to keep running.” Caroline’s company agreement deserves the same attention as its biggest contract. Who may acquire an ownership interest? How would a departing owner’s stake be valued? Where would the money for a buyout come from? There is also the less dramatic question of who can keep things moving during a prolonged absence. A capable management team needs clearly documented authority, not an understanding that Caroline will always answer her phone. The family should examine personal guarantees and the extent to which household wealth is exposed to business obligations. Caroline schedules a meeting involving business counsel, estate counsel and the family’s accountant. Each has understood a portion of her life. Together, they can identify where the plans fail to connect.

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some families the best person for the children to live with is not the best person to make financial decisions. Many people struggle to name guardians and trustees for their children, and many couples disagree over who to name and in what order. Making an intentional decision (even if it is not ideal) is better than not executing your planning. No decision is still a decision—just one which will be left to the Probate Court instead of to you.” The couple revisit guardian nominations, discuss the responsibility with their intended choices and identify alternatives. They review financial powers of attorney and healthcare documents, along with who can locate and use them. Their estate attorney also checks account ownership and beneficiary designations. A will is only part of the plan; assets governed by beneficiary designations or other ownership arrangements require their own review. A trust may help manage money for children over time. Its usefulness depends on its terms, the person administering it and whether the intended assets actually reach it. “When you do a lifetime trust for your kid, you’re creating a prenup for those dollars,” observes Meg Deluca of Cummings & Lockwood. “You have just taken those dollars out of the conversation your kid has to have with their beloved, which is always an awkward conversation. That conversation doesn’t have to happen with respect to their inheritance because you’ve already done it.” Caroline discovers another gap: Daniel knows the company’s biggest clients but cannot locate several essential financial records. They create a secure inventory of advisers, documents, accounts and access procedures. The point is to spare someone they love from becoming a detective during a crisis.

©OLEKSANDR STOCK.ADOBE.COM

WHEN CHILDREN START ASKING At 14, their daughter asks whether the family is rich. Caroline says they are fortunate. Daniel changes the subject. Neither answer helps much. Children notice houses, holidays and the differences between families long before parents decide they are ready for a conversation about wealth. Silence leaves them to interpret those differences themselves. The Mercers begin with decisions rather than disclosure of the entire balance sheet. Their teenagers manage budgets. They research organizations before recommending family charitable gifts. Summer work brings conversations

about wages, taxes and what things cost. Later, the parents explain that a trust may provide support without giving unrestricted access to every dollar. They also reconsider what they mean by fairness. One child may eventually need help with a disability or caregiving responsibilities; another may want capital for a business. Identical distributions and thoughtful treatment are not always the same thing. Any unequal arrangement deserves careful legal drafting and consideration of how it will be explained. “Children, even up to age 30, should not be getting large sums of money in their own hands,” Meg Deluca notes. “What do you think your 21-year-old’s going to do with $100,000 or $1,000,000, or more? I’ve watched 21-year-olds get into very bad habits when they get a sum of money like that.” For Caroline, this becomes the harder work of wealth: describing what she hopes money will make possible without trying to dictate the lives her children will lead.

WHEN SUCCESS CHANGES THE NUMBERS In her late 40s, Caroline receives an unsolicited approach from a potential investor. The valuation makes her reread the email. Until now, the family has thought about wealth largely as income: what comes in, what goes out, what gets

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“If you think you have a sale of a business or any financial event on the horizon, you need to think about whether you want to get some of those assets out of your name, out of your taxable estate, before that pops. Because once it pops, it's too late.” –Meg DeLuca, Cummings & Lockwood

saved. A meaningful transaction introduces a different question: what should this capital accomplish over several generations? “Looking forward, it’s talking about the more subtle things—like, are your kids good at managing money?” says Meg Deluca. “Do any of them have mental health issues? Do any of them have addiction issues? Is anyone married to someone that you don’t like? Those types of questions.” For families planning in 2026, the federal estate and gift tax basic exclusion is $15 million per individual. Lifetime taxable gifts can use part of that allowance. Connecticut’s estate and gift tax exemption is also $15 million, with a 12 percent estate tax on the taxable excess. Those figures warrant a conversation, not an assumption that planning is finished. Federal use of a deceased spouse’s unused exclusion involves portability rules and an estate tax return; couples should have counsel assess both federal and state treatment. Caroline asks for projections that include business growth, existing gifts, insurance ownership and the possibility that one spouse survives the other for many years. The family’s plan must work beyond the year in which it is signed.

BEFORE SIGNING THE DEAL The investor’s proposal offers Caroline a partial sale

and continued leadership. It also offers several kinds of money: cash at closing, retained equity and additional payments contingent on future performance. These are not interchangeable. “If you think you have a sale of a business or any financial event on the horizon, you need to think about whether you want to get some of those assets out of your name, out of your taxable estate, before that pops. Because once it pops, it’s too late,” says Meg Deluca, adding, “Until you have a term sheet where someone says, ‘I’m going to pay you $20 million for your business’, you have an opportunity to value that business at something much less than the sale price.” Caroline’s advisers examine the transaction’s tax structure, potential claims against the proceeds, restrictions on her future work and what happens if the business misses its targets. Estate and charitable planning belong in the conversation early. A proposed transfer of company interests can become more complicated once a sale is sufficiently advanced; the relevant legal and tax questions should be resolved before commitments are made. At home, Caroline and Daniel calculate what the transaction would actually make available after taxes, expenses and amounts held back. They also test a less comfortable scenario: The retained investment performs poorly. Would they still be able to support their preferred lifestyle, help their children and retire on schedule? Caroline eventually sells a majority interest. She keeps a meaningful stake and remains chief executive. The transaction creates financial breathing room, but the family resists treating every projected dollar as spendable cash.

AFTER THE MONEY ARRIVES For the first time, Caroline has more liquid wealth than she knows what to do with. She is approached about private funds, property partnerships and a friend’s new venture. The pitches sound familiar: capable people, compelling opportunities, limited availability. What she needs first is a plan for the household. She and Daniel separate near-term spending needs from long-term capital. Their investment adviser evaluates diversification, taxes and how much money they can afford to lock away. Their attorneys examine ownership greenwichmag.com

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structures and obligations. An investment can require future contributions even when other assets are falling in value. A portfolio that looks varied on paper may still depend heavily on the same industry or economic conditions. The Mercers also formalize their charitable intentions. Before choosing a donor-advised fund, foundation or direct-giving approach, they discuss desired involvement, administrative work and how their children might participate. They leverage Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to set up a Donor Advised Fund. Giving becomes a regular family conversation rather than a December scramble. Their growing wealth begins to feel useful when they can explain, in ordinary language, what each part is meant to do.

©XY STOCK.ADOBE.COM

WHEN THE MARRIAGE ENDS At 62, Caroline is contemplating a quieter role at the company. Daniel has already begun a different conversation. There is no sensational revelation. There are years of postponement, separate routines and the recognition that affection has not preserved their marriage. The children are grown. The financial life is deeply intertwined. Connecticut does not require an automatic fifty-fifty property division. Its courts have broad authority to assign property and consider statutory factors, including the marriage’s length, the spouses’ circumstances and their contributions. A separately titled account is not, by itself, a guarantee that an asset is beyond consideration. “One of the most frequent mistakes is forgetting about an asset,” notes Alessandra Messineo Long. “People should go back and check, as a matter of course, how their assets are titled, how their beneficiaries are named, how their contingent beneficiaries are named, and not just say, ‘Oh, well, yeah, I took care of that.’ ” Their lawyers review the prenup and its potential application. They obtain current financial records and address the value and transfer restrictions of Caroline’s remaining business interest. Caroline sees that interest as years of work. Daniel remembers the professional opportunities he declined while raising their children. Both accounts belong in the discussion. Each spouse develops a realistic budget for the next stage. Retirement is approaching; there is less time

to recover from a settlement built around optimistic assumptions.

CHOOSING HOW TO SEPARATE The Mercers want to preserve their privacy and their ability to attend family occasions without making everyone uncomfortable. They consider mediation. A neutral mediator can help structure negotiations, while each spouse’s own lawyer advises on individual rights and the proposed agreement. Collaborative divorce offers another framework, generally involving specially retained counsel committed to an out-of-court process. Neither approach eliminates the need for financial scrutiny. “The first thing to consider when deciding how to separate is whether there is equal bargaining power between both parties,” observes Kelly Scott. “Do both know about the family finances (income, expenses, assets and debts)? Is there a disparate power dynamic? Once you settle on a process, you then want to think about your priorities in a resolution, and where you are (or are not) willing to compromise in order to reach a resolution. For people divorcing later in life, you especially want to consider what income streams will be after retirement and consider the quality of assets (pre-tax vs. post-tax) when planning for your needs.

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REBUILDING THE PLAN

settlement? “Reviewing how your assets are titled and what your beneficiary designations are is critical,” notes Lauren Davies. “The beneficiary designations are binding, and may name a former spouse or children of a former spouse and should be reviewed. It is also paramount to review and update your estate plan with careful attention to the people you have named in the different fiduciary roles (executor, trustee, power of attorney and health care representative).” Caroline coordinates changes with counsel, observing court orders and continuing obligations rather than assuming every designation should immediately be replaced. She reconsiders trustees and executors. Her daughter is financially capable, but Caroline does not automatically want her supervising her brother’s distributions. An independent fiduciary may offer expertise and relieve pressure on their relationship, though responsibilities and fees need examination. The company needs another review, too. Neither child wants to run it. Caroline begins preparing management succession and an eventual exit on that basis. There are personal details to settle: jewelry, photographs, the painting both children remember from the staircase. She records her wishes and discusses the objects whose emotional value exceeds their appraisal. The estate plan begins to describe the family as it actually is. Months later, Caroline hosts dinner in a smaller Darien home. Daniel will host Thanksgiving. Their children have stopped studying every exchange between them. Her finances are still complicated. She remains responsible for employees, investments and people she loves. But she can now describe who would act in an emergency, where the necessary documents are and what her money is intended to support. For any family, that is a useful place to begin: choose one unresolved decision, gather the relevant records and put a conversation on the calendar. A life will keep changing. Its legal arrangements should keep pace. G

The divorce agreement resolves one set of questions. It creates another. Who now makes medical decisions if Caroline cannot? Who manages her finances during incapacity? Do her estate documents still reflect her wishes? Which beneficiary changes are permitted or required under the

This illustrative feature provides general information, not individualized legal, tax or investment advice. Always consult your own legal and financial counsel before making decisions regarding your estate, marriage, or business.

“The beneficiary designations are binding, and may name a former spouse or children of a former spouse and should be reviewed. It is also paramount to review and update your estate plan with careful attention to the people you have named in the different fiduciary roles.” –Lauren Davies, Pullman & Comley

Mediation depends on the ability to negotiate meaningfully. Coercion, concealed assets or a need for court protection may require a different approach. Nor should a couple assume that private negotiations make every eventual court filing confidential. The Mercers focus on after-tax value and cash flow. A house, a retirement account and appreciated securities worth the same amount on a statement may provide very different financial resources. Property transferred incident to divorce generally retains its tax basis; the transfer does not simply erase embedded gains. Many employer retirement-plan divisions require a qualified domestic relations order, while IRAs follow different procedures. Daniel decides against keeping the Darien house. Its familiarity is appealing. Its carrying costs and maintenance responsibilities are less so. Caroline agrees to a financial arrangement she can meet without relying entirely on another successful business sale.

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calendar NOVEMBER 2026

ART & ANTIQUES ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198. Tues.–Sun. aldrichart.org

FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org

AMY SIMON FINE ART, 1869 Post Rd. East, Westport, 259-1500. amysimonfineart.com

FLINN GALLERY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7947. flinngallery.com

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org CANFIN GALLERY, 39 Main St., Tarrytown, NY, 914-332-4554. canfingallery.com CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS, Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah, NY, 914-232-1252. Caramoor is a destination for exceptional music, captivating programs and spectacular gardens and grounds, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. caramoor.org CAVALIER GALLERIES, 405 Greenwich Ave., 869-3664. cavaliergalleries.com CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING, 299 West Ave., Norwalk, 899-7999. contemprints.org

Samuel Owen Gallery

Can’t Wait by Kate Micucci

Samuel Owen Gallery is proud to present the first gallery exhibition for Kate Micucci, the actor, musician and artist beloved for her work in television, film and animation. The show debuts a sophisticated new body of paintings alongside the playful drawings and street art that first made her visual work a fan favorite. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, November 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 80 Greenwich Avenue. Guests can meet Kate, enjoy an open bar, and watch her paint a group of various sized canvases, available for sale, live during the evening. samuelowen.com

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

CLARENDON FINE ART, 22 Main St., Westport, 293- 0976. clarendonfineart.com CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org

GERTRUDE G. WHITE GALLERY, YWCA, 259 E. Putnam Ave., 869-6501. ywcagreenwich.org GREENWICH ARTS COUNCIL, 299 Greenwich Ave., 862-6750. greenwichartscouncil.org GREENWICH ART SOCIETY, 299 Greenwich Ave. 2nd fl., 629-1533. This studio school offers a visual arts education program for kids and adults. greenwichartsociety.org GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 47 Strickland Rd., 869-6899. greenwichhistory.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org KENISE BARNES FINE ART, 1947 Palmer Ave., Larchmont, NY, 914-834-8077. kbfa.com LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM, 295 West Ave., Norwalk, 838-9799. lockwoodmathewsmansion .com LOFT ARTISTS ASSOCIATION, 575 Pacific St., Stamford, 247-2027. loftartists.org MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org »

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calendar MoCA, 19 Newtown Tpke., Westport, 226-7070. mocawestport.org NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY, 914-251-6100. neuberger.org PELHAM ART CENTER, 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham, NY, 914-738-2525, ext. 113. pelhamartcenter.org ROWAYTON ARTS CENTER, 145 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, 866-2744. rowaytonarts.org SAMUEL OWEN GALLERY, 382 Greenwich Ave., 325-1924. samuelowen.org SILVERMINE GUILD ARTS CENTER, 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, 966-9700.silvermineart.org SANDRA MORGAN INTERIORS & ART PRIVÉ, 45 East Putnam Ave., Suite 119, Greenwich, 629-8121. sandramorganinteriors.com SORELLE GALLERY, Bedford Square, 19 Church Ln., Westport, 920-1900. sorellegallery.com SOROKIN GALLERY, 96 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 856-9048. sorokingallery.com STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION, 39 Franklin St., Stamford, 325-1139. stamfordartassociation.org STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

CONTRIBUTED

UCONN STAMFORD ART GALLERY, One University Pl., Stamford, 251-8400. artgallery.stamford.uconn.edu YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART, 1080 Chapel St., New Haven, 432-2800. britishart.yale.edu

YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY, 1111 Chapel St., New Haven, 432-0611. artgallery.yale.edu YANKELL LEGACY GALLERY, 61 Studio Court, Stamford, 610-213-2749. yankelllegacygallery.com

CONCERTS, FILM & THEATER AVON THEATRE FILM CENTER, 272 Bedford St., Stamford, 661-0321. avontheatre.org CURTAIN CALL, The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford, 329-8207. curtaincallinc.com DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com HARTFORD HEALTHCARE AMPITHEATER, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport, 345-2300, hartford healthcareamp.com

LECTURES, TOURS & WORKSHOPS ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198. aldrichart.org AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org

Greenwich Reindeer Festival Santa and his three LIVE reindeer return to Greenwich for the 18th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen & Kristen Studwell, Compass Real Estate, the “North Pole on North Street,” Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street from Friday, November 27, through Thursday, December 24. Visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and enjoy Santa’s Workshop. A portion of all photos with Santa will be donated to Kids in Crisis. greenwichreindeerfestival.com

AUX DÉLICES, 231 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540, ext. 108. auxdelicesfoods.com

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org

CONNECTICUT CERAMICS STUDY CIRCLE, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. ctcsc.org

BOWMAN OBSERVATORY PUBLIC NIGHT, NE of Milbank/East Elm St. rotary on the grounds of Julian Curtiss School, 869-6786, ext. 338

CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org

FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

FAIRFIELD THEATRE COMPANY, On StageOne, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, 259-1036. fairfieldtheatre.org GOODSPEED OPERA HOUSE, 6 Main St., East Haddam, 860-873-8668. goodspeed.org »

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Compagnie Hervé KOUBI

SOL INVICTUS

This fearless, powerful company reigns from France, Algeria, and beyond. Combining contemporary and urban dance movements, capoeira, and martial arts with inspired choreography, the dancers defy gravity.

November 18 • 7:30 p.m.

S

Ain Gordon and Josh Quillen Relics and Their Humans November 13 • 7:30 p.m. November 14 • 2 p.m.

Become a Season Member Today

O

The LaCroix Music Series

Mark O’Connor’s

P

An Appalachian Christmas

Featuring Maggie O’Connor December 6 • 3 p.m.

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 24

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, Greenwich, CT

A Magical Holiday Experience for Families & Pets! VISIT LIVE REINDEER ~ PHOTOS WITH SANTA

REINDEER FESTIVAL HOSTED BY

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SANTA’S WORKSHOP SPONSOR

REINDERER STABLE SPONSOR

GIFT BAG SPONSORS OFFICIAL AIRLINE SPONSOR

HOLIDAY CHEER STATION SPONSOR

SANTA’S RAFFLE SPONSOR

REINDEER SPONSOR

DOGGY GIFT BAG SPONSORS

COMMUNITY SPONSORS

TO BENEFIT

PREMIER MEDIA SPONSOR

CREATED & PRODUCED BY MEDIA SPONSORS

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GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville, NY, 914-773-7663. burnsfilmcenter.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, 26 Bedford Rd., Chappaqua, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org LONG WHARF THEATRE, 222 Sargent Dr., New Haven, 787-4282. longwharf.com RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 438-9269. ridgefieldplayhouse.org

RIDGEFIELD THEATER BARN, 37 Halpin Ln., Ridgefield, 431-9850. ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

BackCountry Jazz

SHUBERT THEATER, 247 College St., New Haven, 800-228-6622. shubert.com STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. stamfordcenterforthearts.org STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org »

Enjoy a night of great jazz, food, libations and company with BackCountry Jazz for their annual benefit and concert on Sunday, November 22, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Round Hill Community House, 397 Round Hill Road. Scan this QR code for more information and tickets. backcountryjazz.org

CONTRIBUTED

GREENWICH BOTANICAL CENTER, 130 Bible St., 869-9242. greenwichbotanicalcenter.org

The Knollwood Garden Club 50th ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY To benefit Maintenance & Restoratation of the Seaside Garden at Greenwich Point

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2026 11:00 am - 2:00 pm The Milbrook Club

Luncheon, Bazaar & auction

Tickets: $95 at www.KnollwoodGardenClub.org

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calendar KIDS’ STUFF NOV E M B E R 2 026 ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-4519. aldrichart.org

AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org AUX DÉLICES, (cooking classes), 23 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540 ext. 108. auxdelicesfoods.com BEARDSLEY ZOO, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, 394-6565. beardsleyzoo.org

•

EARTHPLACE, 10 Woodside Ln., Westport, 227-7253. earthplace.org

STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH, 4 Horseneck Ln., 869-3224. bgcg.org

GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 39 Strickland St., 869-6899. greenwichhistory.org

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org

GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org

DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org

IMAX THEATER AT MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org

RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge Rd., Ridgefield, 438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org

WESTPORT ARTS CENTER, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, 222-7070. westportartscenter.org

DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com

KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org

STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. palacestamford.org

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org G

Our Mission

To learn more visit breastcanceralliance.org Breast Cancer Alliance, 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 info@breastcanceralliance.org Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director

@BCAllianceCT

NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, 966-9577. newcanaannature.org

STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN, 303 West Ave., Mathews Park, Norwalk, 899-0606. steppingstonesmuseum.org

Ownership Statement Greenwich Magazine U.S. Postal Service. Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation. (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)1. Publication Title: Greenwich. 2. Publication No.: 961-500. 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2026. 4. Issue Frequency: 10 times. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 10. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $29.00. 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. Megan Gagnon, Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Megan Gagnon, Managing Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. 10. Owner: Moffly Publications, Inc. 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 Greenwich Magazine. 13. Publication Title: Greenwich. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 2025. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): *9,230 **10,027; b(1). Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscription Stated on Form 3541: *1,203 **1,206; b(2). Paid In-County Subscriptions: *3,959 **3,969; b(3). Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: *583 **610; b(4). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: *26 **0; c. Total Paid and/ or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), (4): *5,771 **5,785; 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: *1,543 **1,839; d(3). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS *0 **0; d(4). Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means): *1,388 **1,903; e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), (4): *2,931 **3,742; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): *8,702 **9,527; g. Copies Not Distributed: *528 **500; h. Total (Sum of 15f, 15g): *9,230 **10,027; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f. times 100): *66.32 percent **60.72 percent. 17. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the November 2026 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, October 1, 2026. *Average No. Copies Each Issue During Proceeding 12 Months. **Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date.

•

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.

breastcanceralliance

MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org

@breastcanceralliance

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WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE

2026/2027 SEASON!

OCT 20 - NOV 7

DEC 12 - 20

APR 20 - MAY 8 2027 MAY 19 - 22 2027 2026 PROGRAMMING & SEASON SPONSOR

2026 MEDIA SPONSORS

BARBARA STREICKER

WESTPORTPLAYHOUSE.ORG / 203 227 4177

MAR 4 - 7 2027

JULY 13 - 31 2027 Scan for a full list of events!

All dates, times, titles, and artists are subject to change.

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Healthy Resolutions Start Here. Showcase Your Expertise. Fact: Over 40% of local consumers rely on our annual Top Doctors list as part of their search and decision making*

TOP DOCTORS 22nd Annual

FLY MEDI OF A M

TOP

DOCTORS

2027

Medical Expert Special Section 2027 MEDICAL PROFILES

Dr. Richard Smith Orthopaedic Surgeon

Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

FLY MEDI OF A M

TOP

DOCTORS

L

orem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque 2027 faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.

Dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos.

Q&A

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet? Wonsectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus

Bibendum egestas Iaculis? Cassa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien

Witae pellentesque sem? Placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra

97 Pulvinar Road, New Canaan, CT 06840 203.123.4567 www.website.com

inceptos himenaeos olor sit? amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada

• Special section following our annual Top Doctors editorial feature showcasing 500+ medical practitioners, within our 2027 January/February “Health & Wellness” issue • Annual guide to Fairfield County’s medical practices & specialists • Custom profile created for your practice • Reach an audience of 200,000+ families and local residents • One year inclusion in our online doctors directory • Bonus issue distribution to local events reaching healthconscious families, charitable organizations and community influencers

Plus: A-LIST Awards Finalists Revealed

Issue Date: January/February 2027 On Newsstands: January 1, 2027 Commitment Date: November 10, 2026

CREATING MEMORABLE MOMENTS

STARVIN MARVIN JR.

LIGHTHOUSE-BOUND

From New Canaan Mom to Party-Planning Entrepreneur

Meet Darien’s Unlikely Social Media Star

Greens Ledge’s New Boat— Education Meets Adventure

DINK, POINT, MATCH

SEPT/OCT 2026 $6.95

Inside Stamford’s Pickleball Obsession

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 $6.95

FRESH LOOKS AHEAD

Meet the ambitious young people who are thinking big—and doing bigger Kiron (Kiki) Taylor GREENWICH ACADEMY

George Belshaw GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

TEENS to WATCH

The Fashion Trends Defining Fall

Finn Sargent BRUNSWICK SCHOOL

Clare Junius SACRED HEART GREENWICH

Meet the next generation of changemakers, creators and leaders

Harrison Swain ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL

LEXI PARSONS

BEN ROLAPP Brunswick School

BILL TAIBE’S NEW RESTAURANT HI’AMBA

Plus

Greenwich Academy

TYLER TEMEROWSKI Greens Farms Academy

Alexandra Lund RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Ella Burchell GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL

HOME SEWN

THE FALL EDIT

SUPER BOWLS

The family business behind Connecticut’s cult-favorite fleece

Shop the new season trends worth wearing now

barnoódle brings new flavors to Old Greenwich

SEPT/OCT 2026 $6.95

+

The Top 10 Sushi Spots

+

13 Teens to Watch The Westport Farmers’ Market Toasts 20!

REMARKABLE TEENS DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

Ryder King GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL

6 Fall Fashion Trends

+

STANDOUT STUDENTS

Derek Shah KING SCHOOL

RYANN SWAN’S REIMAGINING OF THE INN AT LONGSHORE INDIGO WELLNESS’ WESTPORT OASIS

St. Luke’s School

Sacred Heart Greenwich

Devon Carella GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

BHHAVYA SOMAYA St. Luke’s School

Contact Gina Fusco at Gina.Fusco@moffly.com for more information.

/// O U R A N N UA L A-LIST AWA R DS ///

LILAH MEHTA

King School

Darien High School

GRACE VILLAR

Sacred Heart Greenwich

SCARLETT STEWART

New Canaan High School

FRAGRANCE & FRIENDSHIP:

WESTPORT’S VERONIQUE GABAI & KELLY RUTHERFORD ON THEIR NEW ROSE PREMIÈRE

1 Source: MRI-Simmons Fall 2024; Base: Adults

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advertisers index ART & ANTIQUES

Edgehill CCRC ...............................................................................................................51

Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture ......................................................................................10

Hospital for Special Surgery ...................................................................................... 33

BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT

LCB Senior Living ........................................................................................................ 45

California Closets .......................................................................................................... 3

New York Proton Center .....................................................................................Cover 3

Granoff Architects .......................................................................................................31

Nichols MD ................................................................................................................... 18

Hobbs, Inc .................................................................................................................... 55

LANDSCAPING, NURSERIES & FLORISTS

VanderHorn Architects ................................................................................................15

Sam Bridge Nursery ................................................................................................... 55

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Something Special Florals .......................................................................................... 65

UBS - Shantz Mantione Group (Stamford) ................................................................13 LEGAL

Westy Self Storage ...................................................................................................... 55

Cummings & Lockwood - Greenwich .........................................................................88 EDUCATION Mandelbaum Barrett PC .............................................................................................64 Brunswick School ....................................................................................................... 23 Parrino|Shattuck, PC .................................................................................................. 95 EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT NON PROFITS

A-List Awards .............................................................................................................. 53

Breast Cancer Alliance ............................................................................................. 104

Fairfield University/Quick Center for the Arts ........................................................ 100 Greenwich Historical Society—Holiday Boutique & Festival ...................................96

Greenwich Community Foundation—Let There Be Lights .......................................98

Greenwich Hospital Foundation Arc of Care ............................................................. 59

REAL ESTATE

Knollwood Garden Club- Annual Holiday Party ...................................................... 102

Houlihan Lawrence Corp. ............................................................................................41

Light a Fire Celebration of Giving ................................................................................81

John’s Island Real Estate Company ........................................................................... 35

The Rowan Center- Casino and Cocktails for a Cause ............................................ 103

Sotheby’s International - Greenwich ............................................................. Cover 2, 1

TMK Sports & Entertainment—Reindeer Festival ...................................................101

William Raveis-Shelton HQ ....................................................................................... 4, 5

Westport Country Playhouse ................................................................................... 105 TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION FASHION & JEWELRY Bitter End Yacht Club LLC ........................................................................................ 8, 9

Famille ...........................................................................................................................17

Milestone Ltd. ...............................................................................................................21

Lux Bond & Green ........................................................................................................ 11

The Boca Raton ........................................................................................................... 25

Manfredi Jewels ............................................................................................................ 7 Watches of Switzerland LLC .............................................................................. Cover 4

MISCELLANEOUS

Windsor Jewelers ........................................................................................................ 29

Best of the Gold Coast Contest ..................................................................................60

FOOD & LODGING

Bob Capazzo Photography ......................................................................................... 12

Marcia Selden Catering .............................................................................................. 39

Greenwich Photo Contest ...........................................................................................12

Winvian .........................................................................................................................51

Moffly Newsletters ......................................................................................................88

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Moffly Publications, Inc ............................................................................................ 104

Columbia Dental ......................................................................................................... 65

Top Doctors ............................................................................................................... 106

NOVEMBER 2026 GREENWICH

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postscript photog raph by neil v ig d or

GLOW TIME A

nd just like that, the holiday season is officially underway. From the twinkling trees along Greenwich Avenue to the festive glow of Cos Cob, the lights are a reminder that sometimes the best part of the season is the community that makes it shine. G

A gift from the support of local residents and businesses, this beloved tradition is Greenwich at its most merry and bright. To help keep them shining, visit gwchavenue.org.

Have a photo that captures a moment in Greenwich? Send it to us at editor@ greenwichmag.com for a chance to win $100. Please write “Photo Submission” in the subject line.

greenwichmag.com

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Proton radiation therapy for cancer. Minimize side effects, maximize outcomes. Proton therapy is a highly targeted form of radiation that treats cancer while sparing nearby healthy tissue. That means more precise treatment and fewer side effects—and in New York it’s only available at the New York Proton Center.

Visit nyproton.com/targeted to request a consultation. 225 E 126th St., New York, NY 10035

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