final_Sept. 15 issue

Presort First-Class US Postage PAID Danbury, CT Permit 254

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Drought causes concern over wells

l

REDDING, CONNECTICUT

l

Volume 1 / Issue 5

$3

New life for the old church

Georgetown Bible Church sold to local foundation

By Rocco Valluzzo

Despite some heavy rain early last week, Redding still continues to experience drought conditions, causing residents to be concerned over the state of their wells.

According to Redding Health Officer Doug Hartline, 97 to 98% of homes in Redding have an onsite water supply. His office has received a number of inquiries from people regarding the depth of their wells but not any information on wells actually going dry.

“It happens this time every year late August early September,” he said. “This is a more extreme drought and I would tell you, yes, we probably are receiving more than usual inquiries about the characteristics of on-site wells.

It’s a good time to realize that this (water) is a limited resource.”

He added that when a well’s water quality starts to get cloudy or murky, that might be an indicator that it is getting down toward the bottom. At that point many residents call a well driller who will then ask about how deep the well is.

The depth of a private well can vary, depending on when it was drilled and the size of the home.

Wells that were dug 40 to 50 years ago may average 150 to 200 feet in depth. Nowadays, the average well is probably 320 to 420 feet deep, according to Hartline.

He added that sometimes a well driller can deepen an existing well, Another possible solution is hydro fracking, a less expensive process that involves putting pressurized water into the well to help clean out the pores, fissures and cracks to increase its output from perhaps one gallon a minute to four or five gallons a minute.

“When a well driller is digging a well they basically have to make an on-site decision as they are drilling whether they have enough water to be able to service the they are drilling the well for,” he said. “If it’s a five bedroom home, they’re going to need more water.”

Aside from using less water (not washing cars, not watering lawns, etc.), there are a number of things homeowners can do so it is not wasted. Fixing leaky faucets or pipes is one way. Homeowners can also postpone planting things.

Hartline said they can make sure that none of their toilets are running without their knowledge.

“A thin stream of water running down the side of a toilet bowl is an ongoing stream of water,” he said. “Sometimes you can hear it, other times you can’t.”

One way to test for a running toilet is to put food coloring in the holding tank and see if it bleeds into the bowl when the toilet is not in use. If it reaches the bowl, there is a leak.

Continued on page 2

By Susan Clark

Photo by Susan Clark

For more than 120 years the imposing Georgetown Bible Church, built of local granite, has been a focal point of the Georgetown Historic District. With its purchase by the Be Foundation and envisioned use as a center for arts and culture, there’s a new life in store for the building in the heart of the community.

If you have a photo you’d like us to feature here, please e-mail editor@reddingsentinel.org

Redding’s Big Outdoors Meadow Ridge Trail l

2 2 4 5 7 8 8

By Pamela Brown

Photo by Carol Morgan

Picturesque countryside, serene ponds, and a walkable hiking trail. Redding’s best-kept secret is located on the park-like campus of Meadow Ridge, Redding’s senior living retirement community.

“Getting outdoors is a great way to relax and soak in the peace from the natural beauty that surrounds us. Best of all, there are real benefits to enjoying the outdoors, especially for seniors,” says Christopher Barstein, Meadow Ridge Executive Director.

Open year-round from sunrise to sundown to Redding residents, the Meadow Ridge Trail surrounds the campus, meandering through 100 acres of open space, with a screened-in wooden gazebo and benches for resting. A trail from the main Meadow Ridge meadow continues to and through Redding’s Brinckerhoff Preserve and into Devil’s Den. Louise Klump, 81, a Meadow Ridge resident, leads a year-round Friday morning hiking group with residents. “I enjoy introducing new people to the trails and the open space. I take residents to the pond

Index Editorial Letters to the Editor Sports Music Note Obituaries Book Review Library Corner

l

Why Redding?

Business Spotlight The Natural World Animals and Pets Calendar of Events

8 11 13 13 15

and back, which is a mile or so,” says Klump who is joined by her husband, Kirby. “I love exercise, but I want it to be fun.” Klump appreciates seeing the natural wildlife and flora. “It’s certainly interesting. The other attraction is seeing all kinds of birds on the property.” Ann Raymond, a Meadow Ridge resident and 13year bird watcher, reports seeing over 70 types of birds along the trail over eight years.

Leashed dogs are permitted, and there’s a dedicated dog park called Bark Ridge. Doug Dawson, 75, also a Meadow Ridge resident, walks one to two miles daily, and brings along his Tibetan terrier. “I call it an aerobic walk. The trail is fairly even, with no tripping points.

I like that I can walk at full speed,” says Dawson who feels “perfectly safe” walking late at night. A nature enthusiast, he appreciates the surroundings. “After sunset you can see the red glow against the clouds. The other day it was wonderful to smell the trees. The meadow has a lot of milkweed that attracts butterflies, I’ve seen a lot

of birds, and a deer in the meadow.

That’s exciting.”

Deb Korwin, from Redding, walks a daily two to three mile loop with her goldendoodle. “It’s really nice. I like it because it’s very wide open and well-tended to. I live close to it so it’s very convenient,” says Korwin. “It’s good exercise for me and it’s good for my dog. Sitting by the pond is nice. It’s beautiful.”

Bill Brown, 79, a Meadow Ridge resident and hiking group member, is a year-round walker who walks two to three times a week with his wife, Margaret.

“It’s easy to get sedentary here and I don’t want to. I’m an active person. Afterward I feel refreshed and appreciative of doing it,” says Brown, who enjoys exploring.

“I like the pond. It’s a beautiful place. Occasionally you’ll see some turtles, a swan, some deer. I also go to a further trail at the end of the meadow through trees that connects to Farview Farm.”

Helium for the spirt and a vitamin for the soul is how Meadow Ridge resident Carol Morgan describes the Trail. “Walking through Meadow Ridge’s extraordinary nature preserves I feel greeted by the buoyancy of nature and enchanted. The changing light at times highlights the bark on tree, the grasses in the meadow, or provides sun-bathed twinkle spots glancing on the mosses in the forest — it’s nature’s way of saying look at me.”

The Meadow Ridge Trail begins along the main drive of the campus and has visible signage.

There is a small parking area along the entrance road. g

The historic Georgetown Bible Church at 5 N Main Street has been purchased by the Redding-based Be Foundation. The foundation plans for the church to become an arts and cultural space for Redding and surrounds. Extensive renovations will be required, far exceeding the purchase price of $600,000.

“This is an important gateway property for the Georgetown Historic District and stands at a crossroads for the towns of Redding, Weston, Wilton, and Ridgefield in Fairfield County.

We view this as an opportunity to weave the historic Church back into the fabric of our community and achieve both social and economic returns on Be Foundation’s investment,” said Richard Wenning, Be Foundation’s Executive Director.

“Helping this historic Church become a vital community resource again reflects our commitment to Redding. It also fits with the values of SpreadMusicNow, the music education non-profit Rich and I founded in 2013, which supports the arts to build creative and engaged communities,” Be Foundation’s founder and chairman, Greg Young added. “Looking ahead to the redevelopment of the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill, we are excited to see what the Church building can become in that chapter of its historic life. In the interim, we look forward to discussing ideas for the building’s use with the Town of Redding, its residents, and local organizations interested in using it for performances, events, exhibits, and more,” Wenning said.

Originally known as the Gilbert Memorial Church, for the Gilbert family that made its construction possible, the granite building was completed in 1902. The congregation was affiliated with Methodists in its early days, but by the time the Church was built it was for the Congregational Society of Georgetown. In 1944, unhappy with the direction of the Congregational Church, the congregation sought independence and since then has been wholly independent. The Church has been known as the Georgetown Bible Church since 1965.

The granite for the beautiful Church was quarried in Branchville under the direction of geologists from Yale University.

Built in the Gothic Revival Style, the magnificent structure with its stained glass, tower and bell, has stood the test of time and will continue to do so following renovations. The Church has many features found in larger churches Continued on page 14

2 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Editorial As we turn from summer pleasures to the cooler days of fall, kids go back to school and teens are off to college. With that back-to-school energy, our thoughts might turn to new initiatives and involvements.

Consider volunteering for one of the many organizations that keep Redding ticking along, and that help us help others. There are very local ones, such as New Pond Farm, and local chapters of national and regional non-profits, such as the League of Women Voters.

Many of Redding’s governmental functions are supported by volunteers, from our fire and EMS teams to elected volunteers on boards and commissions. On page 12 of this issue, you’ll see a graphic that shows core governmental functions, departments and commissions (not including fire and EMS – we’ll explore those in a future issue).

Here are a few organizations that would welcome your involvement. If you represent a group not on this list and would like us to shine a light on your group and its work, please get in touch and we’ll publish an updated list in a future issue.

The Town of Redding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Redding CERT is a community-based program that’s been in existence since 2006. It’s made up of citizens who are trained to help their neighbors and community during times of need. CERT training is designed to help prepare for emergencies, and it teaches how to assist neighbors in a disaster situation. Should local resources be overwhelmed or delayed, CERT support enables first responders (fire, EMS, and police personnel) to address the most critical issues at hand.

Call 203-938-2559 for more information on the Redding CERT. CERT needs volunteers!

League of Women Voters Members of the Redding League of Women Voters are part of a proud non-partisan organization that began as American women gained the right to vote in 1920. In Redding, it has been an active organization of women and men since the 1950’s. When you join or renew your membership, you are contributing to our non-partisan efforts to educate and encourage Redding’s residents to participate in local political and community life. The League supports voter registration and education around elections.

Letters to the Editor We welcome letters to the Editor. Please be clear, civil and concise. Publication preference will be given to letters that suggest solutions to challenges identified.

To the Editor, My name is Dr. Robert Pellecchia. I live on Cross Highway in Redding and I’m greatly concerned with Eversource’s planned tree removal for many reasons including the lack of data and the destruction of hundreds of healthy trees.

As a surgeon, I understand the value of data, scientific rationale, and clinical findings. I do not arbitrarily decide upon a diagnosis without examining all the evidence. But Eversource is not doing due diligence. Using a “fall zone” as the determinant for what tree poses a threat is founded on empirical data at best and that should not be allowed to define the rationale for this project. One would have hoped, at the very least, a TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) arborist would be making decisions about tree removals, yet that is not the case.

Eversource is using the opinion of their salaried arborist to make recommendations. There is no objectivity here, no process to include the opinion of independent TRAQ certified arborists, no evaluation based on the best interest of our community, environment, and safety.

Our landscape will forever be mutilated by the loss of healthy trees. And Eversource has never answered the all-important question: “Can anyone accurately predict what tree will fall during a storm.” The reason is because there is no answer. I apologize for continually relating this to my medical specialty, but this would be tantamount to telling a family, “I’m not sure if this will cause a problem in the future, but let’s remove it anyway.” This thought process is unacceptable and would never be supported by anyone in the health care industry. What is the rush to begin severing trees when other options have not been formally discussed with Redding townspeople? How about a costs/benefits analysis of underground power lines and the long-term advantages of such consideration?

Other cities have done this with success. Looking at this project critically there are many questions that have been raised. I can’t address every nuance of electrical grids, power distribution, underground projects etc. because this is not my area of expertise. However, others can if given the opportunity and the time. There seems to be a rush to remove trees on Cross Highway. Why? One would expect that such extreme measures would be handled with a delicate balance.

Quite honestly, this is a potential embarrassment for Connecticut. Without concrete evidence as to the efficacy of this Extreme Tree Removal program, we could have this same discussion years from now with a mutilated canopy and no improvement of power outages.

I appeal to my neighbors to demand that Eversource explore all options and present a comprehensive report to all who reside in Redding. We love this town and want to preserve its integrity and grace.

Respectfully, Dr. Robert Pellecchia Cross Highway

https://my.lwv.org/connecticut/local-leagues/lwv-redding Mark Twain Library As an association rather than municipal library, MTL needs to raise about 40% of its annual budget every year. There are volunteer opportunities throughout the year not just for fund-raising and support at special events but for programming and other library activities. www.marktwainlibrary.org Redding Land Trust If you love Redding’s natural beauty, consider getting involved with the organization that helps keep it that way. Become a member, and volunteers are often needed for special events. Trail Tenders, under the auspices of the Conservation Commission, keep trails clear throughout the year and welcome volunteers. www.reddingctlandtrust.org New Pond Farm New Pond Farm on Marchant Road in West Redding thrives on 102-acres with rolling pastures, woodlands, and wetlands. It is a Connecticut Dairy Farm of Distinction. But is much more than a dairy farm. As a non-profit environmental organization, it has programming throughout the year for children and adults. Become a member, and volunteers are sought for trail tending, invasives removal, and special events. www.newpondfarm.org Redding Parade Path The Redding Parade Path is a public garden which highlights plants of earlier eras through a journey back in time. It has been run by local volunteers and supported by donors since it was created in 2003 on the periphery of Redding’s historic Town Green.

To the Editor, Thank you for your efforts in creating the Redding Sentinel. As one example of your impact, I read in the Sentinel that there was a newly created part of the Norwalk Valley River Trail about 300 yards from my house. I was completely unaware of this. I have enjoyed many walks on the trail. Thank you. Please persevere.

Joe Ellis Great Pond Lane To the Editor, I am endorsing Toni Boucher as the best qualified candidate for the 26th Senate District seat. Toni has represented our interests in Hartford for many years as both Representative and State Senator and is best qualified to do so again.

My government experience with Toni is when we called her each year to brief our Board of Finance on state budget and policy issues affecting our Wilton Town budget. She was well-informed, detail-oriented, and always prepared for any questions we would ask of her.

Toni demonstrated all the qualities we would want in our State Senator – initiative, drive, knowledge of actual government workings, superior relationship management, preparedness, integrity, and an ability to “get along with others to get things done.”

I have also had the chance to serve on the Board of Finance with her Democratic opponent. Unfortunately, her opponent doesn’t possess the same qualities mentioned above in which Toni excels.

Toni Boucher is the clear choice for the 26th State Senate District.

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Rutishauser Maplewood Lane, Wilton

e-mail reddingparadepath1@gmail.com to find out how to get involved.

To the Editor,

Putnam Memorial State Park The Friends & Neighbors (FANS) of Putnam Memorial State Park is a non-profit group whose mission is to help maintain and promote the historical, educational and recreational values of the park. FANS was founded to ensure that Putnam Park is preserved for future generations, and soon expanded to offer educational programs that promote greater understanding of Connecticut’s role in the Revolutionary War. Become a member or join the group at the Visitor’s Center on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. to get involved. e-mail putnamparkmbrs@gmail.com

We would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who made this year’s Mark Twain Library Book Fair one of the most amazing, satisfying, and profitable events yet. 199 people worked to set up the fair, and 226 people added up sales, took credit cards and cash, neatened the shelves, and helped customers find books during the sale days. A special shout out to our three lead sponsors — Meadow Ridge, The Redding Sentinel, and WSHU — for helping to make it all possible.

It was a joy to be part of this community effort and we hope to see you at the fair next year, either as a volunteer or as a shopper--or both!.

With gratitude,

Midge Loery and Catherine Riordan Co-chairs MTL Book Fair

These are just a few worthy organizations in town. In future issues we’ll highlight more. g

To our readers,

Corrections to the September 1 Issue Accompanying the article about Meadow Ridge’s new assisted living neighborhood, page 3, the wrong photo credit was given for the picture of Krista and Paul. Carol Morgan took the photo.

The bulleted list of ARPA projects that appeared on page 9 contained a few inaccurate amounts. The amounts approved by the ARPA working group and the Redding Board of Selectmen are: $250,000 for Joel Barlow stadium and ballfield enhancements, $100,000 for the Boys Club/Girls Club, $92,689 for pickleball courts and $45,000 for the Redding Grange.

These are the sums that will go before Redding voters later this month.

The amounts listed for the five other projects detailed in the story were correct.

Apologies.

Drought causes concern over wells Continued from page 1

Installing a low-flow toilet will also save water. The only toilets available for purchase today are 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) or less. Many older toilets are three to five GPF. “You are wasting a lot of water if you have an older toilet,” said Hartline. “If you replace it you are saving a lot of water without changing any of your behaviors. g

Election season is upon us. The mid-term elections take place November 8. The Sentinel welcomes letters to the editor in support of candidates or causes. We may need to limit the length of letters as the election gets closer so we ask for your understanding.

Don’t forget to register to vote!

Susan Clark Publisher

Redding Sentinel Ltd News and Views of Redding, Connecticut Publisher, Susan Clark Creative Director, Debora DeCarlo Rosa Assistant Graphic Designer, Connor Feeney Reporters: Donna Christopher Rocco Valluzzo Robert Sample

Justin Reynolds Pamela Brown

Printed by Trumbull Printing Telecommunications provided by CCi Voice www.reddingsentinel.org 203.938.3800 Contact us at: editor@reddingsentinel.org advertise@reddingsentinel.org subscribe@reddingsentinel.org publisher@reddingsentinel.org

Single copy price $3.00 / Annual subscription $85.00 Redding Sentinel Ltd believes in supporting the community it serves.

We pledge to donate all profits to local community organizations.

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 3

Eversource tree plan response, cease and desist lifted, Planning Commission next

By Donna Christopher

Photo by Debora DeCarlo Rosa

Eversource will continue with its evaluation of trees on private properties and in the town right-ofway along a 3.7-mile route where trees would be removed to protect the utility’s power lines in its proposed vegetation management plan.

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued a cease and desist order on Aug. 23 to Eversouce, preventing the company from moving forward with its program in 13 towns including Redding, calling on the company to “cease and desist for notice violations” and respond by Sept. 6. The utility responded to the regulator’s questions prior to that date.

In the coming weeks, the company will resume meeting with property owners to determine which trees it will propose to be removed. The company will work with individual property owners on opportunities to retain and plant new wire-friendly trees and pollinator plants in appropriate locations.

The PURA request to Eversource came after a summerlong effort by the new Redding Tree Conservancy to convince Eversource to seek alternatives to tree removals that would include burying power lines underground.

The motion was made by attorney Mary-Michelle U. Hirschoff, identified in the motion as a spokesperson for Trees and Power Eversource Energy, on behalf of the Garden Club of New Haven.

The PURA request asserted that Eversource failed to notify the authority or the municipalities of the programs according to the general statutes of Connecticut and that PURA had not had a chance to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these projects.

Among contentions, the motion said “it has not been determined whether the new programs provide meaningful resilience benefits.

The garden club also stated that “existing tall trees provide myriad benefits to the environment and economy that have not been

Board of Education budget surplus is larger than expected l

By Rocco Valluzzo

Thanks to some cautious spending a larger-than-expected amount of unexpended funds remained in the Redding Board of Education’s budget at the end of the last school year.

At the Board’s August meeting, School Director of Finance, Technology and Operations Sara Scrofani said as of July 30 $1,205,622 was left in unexpended funds and another $165,053 in encumbered funds. The bulk of the latter amount was for the school security enhancement projects. She cautioned that there are still some outstanding final costs in the areas of professional services, tuition and energy.

Ms. Scrofani and Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Pierson Ugol explained that the District has a unique system because of the health insurance account

and being self-insured, and that also because of concern for this system, the previous director of finance wanted schools to use extreme caution in spending.

“And so we want to make sure that there is enough in our health benefits account at all times ad so I think it looks a little bit different on paper,” she said.

“When you transfer the money in and out that is essentially how the self-insured works. So it’s not really unanticipated to have some remaining funds like this that would then go back into the account.”

She added that on June 7 there was a motion to authorize Superintendent Jason McKinnon to transfer the unspent funds as of June 30 to the health claims fund up to a balance of $600,000 and then return any unspent funds to the town.

considered by Eversource.”

In a Sept. 6 phone call Eversource CT Manager Vegetation Management Sean Redding explained the next steps the utility will take to proceed with the proposed project.

When the cease and desist was received the company “paused all work out there including the meetings with property owners,” but will “pick up again” now that it is lifted.

“We provided the information the regulators had asked about the resilience base segments,” he said.

About 40 percent of the properties had been visited prior to the PURA motion and home visit appointments will continue under the supervision of Eversource arborist Sam Berg leading the project.

“We are continuing to follow through with our commitment to improving the reliability of that segment which does provide power to 2,200 customers and critical infrastructure. We are following all regulations set by the state and regulators and we are happy to hear the Town has identified a person as the tree warden,” Redding told the Sentinel.

Julia Pemberton announced Redding appointed Sean McNamara as tree warden. He previously served in this volunteer role.

“We’ll start that conversation with them once we finish the survey of the Scenic Road, we will be putting together the application to present to Planning and Zoning.

That’s a requirement,” Sean Redding said.

Daniel Barrett, Chair of the

According to Board Chairman Chris Parkin, The actual amount of unspent money is closer to $600,000 after the transfer to the health claims fund. As such, the amount is just under 3% of the overall budget.

“I think our previous Director of Finance was certainly concerned with the trend regarding healthcare costs during this operating year and wanted the buildings to exercise a lot of caution with spending.” said Dr. Ugol. “I think that as we neared the end of the year it became clear that there would be additional monies than perhaps might have been if the trend got worse.”

In a special meeting on Sept.

6, the board interviewed four candidates (one Democrat, one Republican and two unaffiliated) to fill the vacancy left by Julie Hardridge, who resigned and moved out of town. On the fifth ballot, Mike Shanahan (unaffiliated) was selected.

Mr. Shanahan was sworn in by Mr. Parkin that evening. g

Planning Commission, described the evaluation process that will be undertaken by members once the Eversource application is presented to the commission.

He cited the Redding Scenic Roads Ordinance, noting that no alterations to a Scenic Road “shall be made” without application to the Planning Commission. Thus, Eversource must apply to remove or trim trees that are along a Scenic Road prior to taking any action.

The application needs to detail such proposed alterations. A vague statement about their overall intent or general scope of the alterations will not provide sufficient information for the Planning Commission to make a reasoned determination, Barrett said.

“Upon receipt of the application, Planning will consult with town officials, including our tree warden, prior to making a decision. In addition, Planning will hold a public hearing to allow town residents to comment on the application (both in favor and against). Giving residents this opportunity is essential,” he continued.

Next, the Planning Commission will submit its recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. If Planning decides to “maintain a Scenic Road without change, then the Board of Selectmen may overturn that vote only by a unanimous vote of its own,” according to the ordinance.

“A decision to maintain a Scenic Road without change is a denial of the application” Barrett said.

According to the Scenic Roads Ordinance, “any alterations and improvements to Scenic Roads

must preserve, to the highest degree possible,” the scenic characteristics that the Planning Commission used as a basis for the initial Scenic Road designation.

Cross Highway met several of the designation criteria, and the most relevant of these is that it is “bordered by mature trees.”

The Commission’s deliberations will weigh the costs against the possible benefits of the proposed alterations as well as the viability of options that could achieve the desired goals without harming or incurring less harm to Cross Highway’s scenic characteristics.

Such deliberations will likely include a site walk so that Commissioners can have a finegrained picture of the proposed changes.

Once the Planning Commission has received an application and completed its review, members will be able to comment on the Eversource program. g See page 10 for the PURA ruling lifting the cease and desist order.

Meadow Ridge named one of the best in the nation

By Grace Whitmore

Meadow Ridge was recently named one of the best senior living communities in the country by U.S. News & World Report in the inaugural edition of its Best Senior Living rankings.

They were awarded for Independent Living,

along with Edgehill in Stamford.

These facilities were among four in Connecticut to be recognized for Independent Living and the only two in Fairfield County to be so awarded. g

Photo by David Heald Do Ngak Kunphen at Celebration Summer Trust Land Redding the at guests welcomes Geshe Lobsang Dhargey 27th.

August on Ling, which took place

4 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Sports New coach hopes to build on success l

Photo by Rocco Valluzzo Members of the Joel Barlow High varsity field hockey team work on offensive and defensive drills during practice last week. The Falcons have a new head coach and hope to build on the success they enjoyed last season.

By building on what it accomplished last season, as well as learning a new coaching system, success could be in the cards for the Joel Barlow High varsity field hockey team in 2022.

Under new head coach Clara Ambrose, the Falcons will build on

basic skills, such as their passing game, how to transfer the ball and trap it. In the pre-season they have already demonstrated the ability to learn fast as well as work hard.

There are a lot of things that they’re trying to learn in just a few days,” said Ambrose, whose

By Rocco Valluzzo to Newtown, and ended the season in the State Class M semifinals.

Among those losses are Alison Kopec, Ashley Starrett and Olivia Rodriguez. Each was an All-SWC first team selection.

All-Colonial Division selections Ashley Young and Piper Gilbert have also left, as has Elizabeth Darmofal (Honorable Mention).

Barlow also has a number of players with varsity experience back this season. Some will see time in their former positions while others will find new roles.

“I’m not starting from scratch,” said Ambrose. “It’s just getting everyone up to speed. It’s like a blitz right now.”

Barlow will need candidates for the center back and center midfielder positions. In the running are senior tri-captain Teagan Hurlbut and junior Annika Swabsin.

Senior tri-captain Olivia Jones could be on defense but is also a capable midfielder. Classmate and tri-captain Marin Kalamaris is currently out with a knee injury

but Ambrose hopes to have her back midway through the season.

A sophomore who could see time in the back is Alia Zima.

In the midfield the Falcons have seniors Brooke Bishop and Bella Rosa as well as junior Isabella Olsen.

“In the middle, I’m pretty happy with the players,” said Ambrose.

“We’re just going to try and shift them and see how they do.”

Up front Barlow also has a number of talented players.

Ambrose will see how they do in a couple of pre-season scrimmages.

“Given how well they did last year, the first thing is I want them to progress as a team and improve all of those skills and improve this particular system,” said Ambrose.

“Reasonable goals are for them to try to win the SWC and do as well if not better in the states. We’ll see how we do.” g

long term, and held multiple focus groups for faculty, parents and students during the spring. Many community members attended a very dynamic evening at Barlow in May where people were asked to share their ideas in small and large groups and had the opportunity to hear immediate student feedback on the ideas. It was a highly engaging meeting with a wide variety of thoughts floated as to what attributes are most needed by a graduate today. More than nine hundred responses have been recorded in the pre-work phase and the qualitative data is being analyzed via sophisticated software to identify themes and their relative importance to the community.

This summer the design

phase has included defining core values for an ideal school and the successful student, setting priorities and measurable goals, and developing specific action steps which will be rolled out over time. Dr. McKinnon views this as a highly consultative process and will be seeking input and buy-in from the various constituencies as they work together to finalize the plan.

Dr McKinnon describes himself as an evidence-based instructional leader who pays attention to the research on what works most effectively for students. He began researching which instructional strategies would make the highest impact on our learners’ success over a twelve-month period and is incorporating them into the

district’s practices. Among these strategies are teachers establishing clear goals for a lesson, clear criteria for success in a class, providing high quality feedback to students as well as opportunities for self-assessment, facilitating high quality discussions and asking higher order thinking questions.

Lower on the impact list are things such as homework.

Dr. McKinnon is an energetic leader looking to develop a longterm plan that fits our community and effectively draws upon available research. Stay tuned for more information on this plan for our schools as it develops. g

Many seniors involved in athletics at Barlow want to leave a lasting impression by bringing home some hardware.

The football, soccer, volleyball, swimming, cross country, and other athletic programs at Barlow have started their fall season and are determined to win the South Western Conference and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which are the two conferences that Barlow athletic teams participate in.

The first Barlow football game took place on September 9th.

Students, parents, and fans alike made sure to show up and support the black and gold. The students’ section may have been the largest I’ve seen during my time at Barlow. Well over a hundred students decked out in black attire helped rally the football team to a 41-14 win over New London.

As for academics, students are back in the swing of things: writing essays, solving math problems, and

participating in science labs. Most people don’t know that Barlow offers a variety of elective classes that students can take as well, such as Jewelry, entrepreneurship, video production, and music appreciation.

Barlow’s many athletic teams, numerous extracurricular activities, and awesome course offerings encourage students to find a balance between working hard and having fun. g

team officially began practice on Aug. 29. “They’re a great group of girls.”

Formerly a coach at Wilton High, Ambrose has run the Westport youth field hockey program for the last 10 years. She also runs the AGH Field Hockey Club based at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Turnout has remained consistent for Barlow, as it has between thirty-five and forty players in the program. Numbers are somewhat evenly divided across all grades.

“We do have a pretty strong senior class,” said Ambrose.

“Some of the juniors that have come up, I’m pretty pleased with their skill level.”

Most of the sophomores are on JV but Ambrose feels they should be good candidates for varsity next season.

The Falcons graduated a number of talented players from last season’s team that finished at 15-4 overall. Along the way they reached the South-West Conference championship, losing

New superintendent making an impact

By Linda Meyer Mitchell

On August 30th School Superintendent Dr. Jason McKinnon had the pleasure of welcoming back tri-district teachers for the first in-person convocation in three years. The purpose of a school convocation is to set priorities and goals for the year, focusing on those that will have the greatest impact on student lives and inspire learning. Dr. McKinnon believes it important that students feel school is a safe space where all are able to learn.

After years of Covid restrictions, he is hopeful that this year will be a large step towards the return to a more normal environment where students and staff can enjoy learning and being part of a school community.

Since his arrival last fall, Dr.

McKinnon has been busy with many things, with one very important item being his longterm strategic plan. Dr. McKinnon is clearly a man of action and set a fairly short time frame for developing and implementing the plan.

Pre-work began in the spring, with summer and early fall designated for design and the new plan slated for presentation to the boards and community by budget time in January. He has assembled a working group of teachers and parents to assist in the process.

Pre-work consisted of collecting data and insights from a variety of sources. Dr. McKinnon started consulting faculty last March for their input on what is needed for our students in the

Barlow Beat l

By Griffin Ellis

Seniors wore a popping pink T-shirt on the first day of school, displaying their class color and senior status to others. This T-shirt tradition, which seniors have participated in for quite some time, is both flashy and practical.

Freshmen are easily able to identify the oldest students on the first day of school and, for example, ask them for help finding their classes.

The shirts also serve to recognize the seniors’ last, first-day of school at Barlow.

Currently sitting atop the class hierarchy myself, it is hard to believe that I am in my last year of high school. Because I’ve spent so much time around my classmates, I’ve gotten to know this year’s senior class well. Each class’s personality varies. I would describe my class as charismatic, easygoing, and imaginative. We bring good leadership qualities, and are hoping to leave a lasting impression in our final year at Barlow.

Photo by ???

Do you run a business in Stamford, Westchester or NYC?

Formerly known as

We want to be your phone company!

We are CT-based, and make remote work EASY. Visit Us At CCiVoice.com

Phone: 203-938-8400

Kangaroos in Redding? School superintendent Dr. Jason McKinnon issued a challenge to students last year stating that if he got 1,000 followers on his Instagram account he would bring a kangaroo along when he made his initial visits to the schools. Within two days he had 1,600 followers, so true to his promise and much to the delight of the students Dr. McKinnon made his rounds to meet them with a furry fellow Australian native.

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 5

Music Note World-class talent drawn to the Danbury stage l

Maxim Lando

“The audience was mesmerized.

Nailed to the seats” says a review of award-winning pianist Maxim Lando after he performed at a German classical music festival.

The young talent will open the Danbury Concert Association Season on Sept. 18.

An Oct. 30 trio, quartet in March, and quintet in May complete the series.

Top-tier talent has been contracted for the local audience.

The concerts are on Sunday

afternoons with a meet-the-artist reception. They take place in a prized venue on the Western Connecticut State University westside campus. The Visual & Performing Arts Center has four parts including the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall. There is tri-level, in-the-round seating, and two grand pianos. Lando will play the Steinway.

Attracting “world-class” is the goal of President Kathryn Taylor Kloss and her fellow association

volunteers. The Redding resident is a clarinetist whose career has given her access to the kind of talent she wants to bring to the local stage. Often, they are people she has worked with or knows through the industry.

Kloss spent 40 years with the Borealis Wind Quintet, and nine years with the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast pit orchestra.

She is also a freelance musician who plays pick-up with many different orchestras, and teaches music. Fellow quintet players and Kloss were students together at Juilliard where she earned a Masters of Performance.

After Juilliard, the former students met again at the Aspen Music Festival, she recounted.

“When we saw each other, we decided to read through quintets to become familiar with the repertoire and we bonded. We stayed together. We wanted to keep the group going. We ended up getting a Grammy nomination for chamber music. I was the first one to bow out after 40 years,” Kloss said.

When she did, she recommended a clarinetist she knows as a replacement. Last spring, the group came to Danbury to perform in the spring series. “I loved it.

They are my friends. When you are together for three, four, five years,

By Donna Christopher

they become your musical family as you grow professionally.”

Kloss grew up in New Jersey.

“My parents had season tickets and took me to the Philadelphia Orchestra.” She started playing clarinet in the seventh grade.

Kloss served for many years on Danbury Concert Association’s board before taking over as president after the former president passed away.

“Everybody on the board knows music and how to hire musicians.

We try to get the absolute best musicians we can find. We hire professionals, phenomenal musicians,” Kloss said.

The association offers a subscription for $80 and charges $25 for tickets to each concert offered at the VPAC, in cooperation with the music department of Western Connecticut State University. A grant from the Danbury Cultural Commission offers free admission to those aged 18 and under. Kloss often sees people she knows from Redding, Ridgefield, Danbury, and other towns. “I’m happy when I see them,” she said.

Broadway talent “staggering” Her career and the Broadway experience exposed her to worldclass musicians, Kloss said.

Broadway orchestra members have

a “staggering” level of musical talent. “We had a gentleman who played the bass. Our principal horn player became assistant principal horn in the Philadelphia Orchestra.

These people were phenomenal,” Kloss said.

Pandemic cancels overseas artists The Danbury Concert Association has been around for 60 years. Before the pandemic, the volunteers were working on bringing an orchestra from Amsterdam -- the Camerata RCO, members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra -- but in March 2020 trip plans had to be canceled. “Hotels were booked. It was a tearful conversation,” Kloss said.

“We all moved on and have a beautiful season for ‘22 to ‘23.

It should be great. We have new artists and returning artists. Every concert will be different,” Kloss said.

The Visual and Performing Arts Center is located at 43 Lake Avenue Extension in Danbury.

There’s plenty of parking. Tickets may be purchased in advance and are offered by subscription, and are also on sale at the door. For more information, visit danburyconcert. org g

Many volunteers and many visitors make library book fair a success

By Lisa Goldstein

Photos by Lisa Goldstein

A constant buzz of people swept through the aisles of the 61st Annual Mark Twain Library Book Fair held at the Redding Community Center over Labor Day Weekend.

More than 200 Redding residents chipped in to volunteer their time to make the event happen.

“I have to say that this year we had one of the best groups of volunteers ever for set-up and takedown and as such, the whole process went amazingly quickly,” said Book Fair Co-Chair Midge Loery who has organized the Book Fair for almost two decades.

A steady stream of visitors passed through, from book dealers who stood in line and spent $20 to enter during the first hour on Friday, to families old and young, flowing

in throughout the remainder of the event, which was free to attend.

Co-Chair Catherine Riordan noted there was noticeably more traffic overall than in past years. “From the opening moments, every room was full of customers. You had to circle the parking lot to find a space until the last hours of the final day.”

The books, CDs, vinyl records, puzzles and more flew off the shelves leaving slim pickings for those arriving on the later days. The number of book buyers who arrived early jumped 24% over last year, the second best turnout for that group in the 61-year history. Many waited on line as long as two hours before the doors opened, at which point they rushed through the book-filled rooms and hallways of the Redding

Community Center and loaded up. Families meandered through the wider aisles, with quite a few young readers stopping to read a book along the way. By Monday, when the shelves were almost bare, numerous customers still left with boxes overflowing with items.

Many buyers were repeat customers who were local or had traveled across state lines (as far as Maryland and Ohio) for the large selection, bargain prices or rare books. Loery said she encountered quite a few first-timers this year as well. One new customer from a neighboring town said he was “amazed at how organized and massive” the event was and that it rivaled libraries in some of the bigger towns nearby.

The Book Fair provides much needed funds to the Library. While many libraries are municipal libraries and therefore funded fully by their towns, the Mark Twain Library is an association library and receives roughly 60% of its operating budget from the town.

All proceeds from the Book Fair go directly toward the operating costs of the Library. This Book Fair saw a 14% increase in transactions from last year with many categories selling out completely. That success helps pay for books and programs at the Library. g

6 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Time for tennis and lots of great programs l

Photo by Debora DeCarlo Rosa

If you enjoy tennis, you’ll appreciate the brand-new tennis courts at the Redding Community Center. “It’s important for the town to have quality facilities. I’m happy for the residents to have a great place to play,” says Rob Blick, Park & Recreation Director.

Over the years, the 44-yearold asphalt courts had fallen

into disrepair and were plagued by numerous cracks. “It was becoming a safety hazard. They needed to be replaced. Courts are not meant to last that long,” says Blick.

After the budget referendum passed in May, funds were allotted to complete the re-construction with BMP Construction handling

the project. The courts are now made of post-tensioned concrete in which concrete is poured over metal cables or tendons extending from one end of the court to the other. This process will prevent large cracks that eventually occur in asphalt tennis courts and offer more durability. “It’s a far better system which should not need crack repair for another 20 to 25 years,” he says. The courts will also be lined for 8 pickleball courts with portable nets available for use. The courts are available for free on a first come first served basis by Redding residents and their guests with players asked to limit daily play to one hour if people are waiting.

In addition to youth tennis and pickleball classes, Park and Recreation is offering a whole slate of fall programming for youth and adults taught by regional instructors. There’s something for

By Pamela Brown

everyone, including yoga, fitness, golf, basketball, football, soccer, art, cooking, chess, and much more. New this fall are pre-school and kindergarten karate and preschool Musical Munchkins. “A lot of programs are coming back that we stopped during Covid.

We’re back to a full load of fitness programs. Every program we offer is open to residents and non-residents, except for use of the outdoor tennis and pickleball courts,” says Blick.

There’s Open Gym for adult volleyball, basketball and pickleball, a basketball league for kids grades 3-8 and high-schoolers, free youth open gyms for grades 5-12, and also Family Open Gym on Sundays.

Lyrics Coffeehouse is returning on Friday nights from November through March showcasing singer-songwriters performing original pieces.

In addition, Park and Recreation

Together Women Rise women and girl survivors of human trafficking l

Women and girls who have survived human trafficking from some of the world’s poorest countries are September’s focus of Redding’s chapter of Together Women Rise.

The Redding chapter is the local arm of a national community of women dedicated to achieving global gender equality. Among the goals is to empower women in developing countries to become more self-sufficient and prevent re-victimization.

The Redding chapter has about fifty members. Meetings four times a year draw about twenty-five. Members meet to learn about a “grantee of the month” by watching a video, followed by a discussion over wine and cheese.

Members then donate to the cause.

EverFree is September’s grantee. The national organization works to accelerate freedom for human trafficking victims around the world. The Redding chapter’s current focus is to fund EverFree’s programs that help survivors in Uganda and The Philippines. The programs provide aftercare (residential or community-based), advocacy, prevention, and legal programming.

There are meetings four times a year (Sept. 12), in March, June, and December. All Redding residents are invited to the meeting, men also, said Virginia Cohen. She leads the chapter she co-founded in 2018.

When the group started there was a presentation about a cause to support then a potluck dinner.

Artisans’ totem poles welcome you to Heritage Center l

It included dishes from the subject region. There was discussion, then donations in the amount one would pay to eat in a restaurant. “Since the pandemic, dining was simplified to wine and cheese,” Cohen said.

Among other projects supported by the local women is the Center for Victims of Torture in Uganda which provides mental health and psychosocial support to women and girls in northern Uganda who have experienced torture and trauma during the many years of conflict in the country.

The Women Advocacy Project in Zimbabwe is another cause supported by the Redding chapter. The project will train girls in two marginalized communities of Harare, Zimbabwe in soap production and sales. The girls will earn income, increase their confidence, build team spirit, and avoid child marriage.

Cohen and her husband George Cohen, a retired gastroenterologist first came to Redding in 1978.

They have two sons. She is a graduate of Smith College who, with George, has taken alumni-sponsored trips to many places including some of the world’s most impoverished countries. The travel

Rolling dice with neighbors

Easton and Redding Backgammon Club

By Ruth Moran

Backgammon Board

Photo by Ruth Moran

They come every Monday to play with clay (no prior experience necessary) and create their own “masterpieces” from raw clay.

Participants in Ruth Moran’s “Playing with Clay” class have been inspired to combine their individual creations to build a totem pole as a decorative feature to the Redding Community Center.

The group has made enough sculptures to build two totem poles which will be positioned near the entrance to the Heritage Center in early September.

The idea of giving back to the community is very much in the hearts of these clay class students. g

often includes visits to programs that support local people.

Some of the most oppressive poverty she’s seen is in Cambodia, Myanmar, and India, where young children were begging, and homeless people were living in the streets, she said.

In Tanzania, she visited a center for children and adults and recalled “colorful buildings for art, music, and dance” and saw an “impressive Dutch-run healthcare center” for pregnant mothers that also offered community after-care.

In Africa with her husband, they went to an after-school facility outside Soweto that accommodated 400 children. “A brightly decorated building offered creative activities, helped them to do their homework, and inspired them to go on to higher education,” Cohen recounted.

Cohen’s friends and other women she meets at the meetings and in general around town “are interested in the status of women around the world,” she said “They want to be educated about their conditions and involved in bettering their lives.

Many of the presentations are inspiring so although they may be sad or angry about the women’s

As a backgammon enthusiast who was struggling to find opponents, Jamie Weinstein decided to take matters into his own hands and create a community of like-minded players. In April 2022, Weinstein founded the Easton and Redding Backgammon Club, which meets once a month in the community room of the Easton Public Library and has grown to include 40 members.

“The club is comprised of backgammon enthusiasts and novices who want to learn the game in a social and non-judgmental atmosphere,” Weinstein said.

“Our guiding principle is to help everyone learn and grow without fear.”

Weinstein first fell in love with backgammon — a two-player tables game that first appeared in the 17th century — when he was living on Wall Street some 15 years ago. His apartment was across the street from the Deutsche Bank public atrium, which happened to be the hangout of the world’s best chess and backgammon players, Weinstein said.

“They would sit there all day challenging passersby and each other to games for money, usually

winning,” Weinstein continued.

“I watched for many hours before getting the nerve to try my luck at the lowest stakes and was instantly hooked for life.”

Weinstein became enraptured by the game due to the fact that it’s very strategic yet also involves an element of luck. After all, even the best players in the world can’t control how a pair of dice lands.

“A beginning player can, on occasion, beat a world-class player in a single game, though over the long run of many games the world-class player will triumph,” Weinstein said. “The simple rules and paradoxically complex strategy make the game compelling to me — like a puzzle to be solved.”

While Weinstein initially started the club because he wanted to play more backgammon — his wife isn’t a fan of the game and his kids are too young to play it — he really enjoys the conversations that materialize during gameplay.

“My favorite aspect, other than playing the game, is getting to know the people in my community,” Weinstein said. “There are so many interesting people to meet, and backgammon lends itself to a very social atmosphere. It’s been a very rewarding experience for me personally so far, and I look forward to keeping it going for quite some time.”

Moving forward, Weinstein hopes to continue growing the club, with a goal of getting to 100 members so that there’s at least 10 or 12 players at each meetup.

Though the club is currently only meeting once a month, they’re

is featuring entertaining trips to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, NY Rangers hockey game, the Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and even family ski weekends.

Park and Recreation is happy to be providing the town with such outstanding programming and outdoor sports. “We know people will enjoy the tennis courts for years to come,” says Blick, who reminds people to sign up for Park and Rec programs to reserve their spot.

You can find more information on all the classes on the Park & Recreation website: www. townofreddingct.org g

By Donna Christopher plight, they are also impressed by what is being done, and willing to donate to the cause.

Anyone interested in learning about a different culture “in a short time” will benefit from attending one of the chapter meetings, said Laurie Heiss, a member since the chapter started.

It was originally called Dining for Women. The idea to “share food while learning, and donate the (amount of) money you might spend eating out to foster gender equality, and raise women out of extreme poverty via specific programs,” is an interesting concept, she noted.

“You have to go out of your way and your comfort zone to comprehend the status of and difficulties for women around the world. We know that as women rise up financially and gain expanded rights and options so do their children rise up.”

The organization’s newer name embodies this ideal, according to Heiss. She said, “It’s “spot on.”

For information about joining Together Women Rise in Redding, e-mail vhcints@icloud.com. Visit togetherwomenrise.org for more information. g

l

By Justin Reynolds

considering moving to bi-weekly meetups based on group feedback.

If you’re interested in learning how to play backgammon or refining your chops even further while getting to know your neighbors, Weinstein encourages you to join the club’s Facebook group, Easton and Redding Backgammon Club, and get involved.

“There’s no age limit — we had a six-year-old member playing with us last month,” Weinstein said. “There are no fees, and we will even provide the equipment if you don’t own a backgammon board. The only thing we require is the willingness to learn and the desire to play.”

The club’s next meetup is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 20 starting at 5:30 p.m. and running until whenever the group feels like stopping. If you’re unable to make that date, the next posted meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 18.

For more information on the club or to get involved, join the Facebook group or send Weinstein an e-mail at jamie.weinstein@ gmail.com g

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 7

Obituary Daniel Heller of Redding dies peacefully at 92 l

Photo by Dan Reidy

Hugh Karraker, artist l

By Dan Reidy

On September 2, 2022, Dan Heller, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, died peacefully at ninety-two, surrounded by his family. Born April 30, 1930 to Helen Grey and Israel Heller in New York City, Dan graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from New York University. Dan proudly served in the U.S. Army as a medic during the Korean War. After the Army, he worked in finance in New York City where he met and married Ingrid Lütjens. They were married for fifty-five years.

Dan was very proud of his two daughters, Karen Lightman (Ari) of Pittsburgh, PA and Jennifer

Reidy (Dan) of Corte Madera, CA. He deeply loved his grandchildren Kate, Eli, Hannah and Caroline; and nieces, Laura and Joyce.

Dan loved the outdoors, gardening, birdwatching, classical music, and had a deep knowledge of history and literature. He moved his family from New York City to Redding in 1971. He and Ingrid bought the land, built a colonial style farmhouse and lived there happily for fifty years. The property sat adjacent to forestland where Dan birdwatched, provided winter shelter to eastern phoebes in his garage, and grew abundant blueberries.

Dan spent his career in finance, working for GTE, and was Chief Financial Officer for various small

and medium-sized companies until his retirement in 1997. He was elected to Treasurer of Redding several times and was proud to serve his beloved town for decades.

The memorial will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church Parish, 184 Cross Highway, Redding, CT 06896. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to The Mark Twain Library, Redding, CT https://marktwainlibrary.org/ or New Pond Farm, Redding, CT https://newpondfarm.org g

By Susan Clark

Hugh, who passed away on August 17th, focused a lot of his energies exploring and celebrating his great-grandfather’s scientific triumph as the inventor of Bakelite.

We, in turn, celebrate Hugh for the creativity of his wood works around town. Using a variety of natural woods, Hugh built fences and gates, benches and tables.

The examples shown here are on permanent public display along the Parade Path at Town Hall. If you haven’t seen them, they’re worth a detour. g Photos by Susan Clark

8 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Library Corner

Book Review The Crane Wife

By C. J. Hauser

320 pp. Doubleday $28.00

The novelist CJ Hauser (Family of Origin, The From-Aways) has penned a memoir-in-essays about creating her own narrative for happiness. Her book expands upon the essay The Crane Wife, originally published in The Paris Review in 2019, which describes her experience calling off her wedding and leaving for Texas to study the whooping crane.

A graduate of Joel Barlow High School, she spent her formative years in Redding and keen-eyed readers will recognize her mention of the Mark Twain Library where her mother helped her find a biography of Judy Garland, as well as other locales around town.

This collection is quirky – there is an entire essay devoted to Katharine Hepburn’s character in The Philadelphia Story. She attends a robot convention and makes a pilgrimage to John Belushi’s gravesite. While these experiences may seem disconnected, her witty observations about the direction of her life ties these essays together.

She brings the road less traveled to a whole other level with her sharp observations, and readers will find this memoir funny, unexpected, and big-hearted. g Review by Erin Shea Dummeyer Mark Twain Library Director

Please support our advertisers!

CCi Voice

Nod Hill Brewery

Coldwell Banker Realty

Redding Grange #15

Elizabeth Edwards Law Offices

Redding Ridge Repair

League of Women Voters

Roni Agress, Wm Pitt / Sotheby’s

Meadow Ridge

Spread Music Now

By George Avidon

This is the first summer in three years that the traveler in all of us reconnected with the outside world. Wanderlust is alive and well. Those who travel or desire to travel recognize their own ability to search out the details of new surroundings. Mark Twain famously wrote about travel in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Nevertheless, we are blessed in this little corner of the earth we call Redding. Not only are we surrounded by great beauty, but also the consistent and everpresent availability of knowledge and history. If one desires, one can develop a better understanding of the world at large just from the history of and within our small town. And the Mark Twain Library is at the epicenter of this knowledge, history and local culture.

Look no further than our event calendar in the coming weeks and you will see why. On September 15th we bring you the first program in a new ongoing

series called “History Close to Home” which delves into the unique and fascinating history of both Redding and the Nutmeg State. Whether you’re a newcomer to Redding, or an old-timer, this series offers opportunities to learn more about our collective stories and shared past.

Ever heard of Chicken Warrups? John Read? How about Long Lots? Find out about these people and places from Redding’s early history (and more!) from town historian Brent Colley in that September 15th program which focuses on the Native Americans who called this area home, along with the town’s first European settlers.

Colley grew up in Redding and comes from a family that called this town home for five generations.

He credits his grandfather, Harry Colley, for instilling a curiosity and a love for the town’s past.

Colley leads walking tours, slide shows and speaking engagements that showcase the people, places, and events that have enriched the histories and shaped the landscapes of Branchville, Georgetown, and Redding. This is a hybrid program and we welcome patrons both in the library and online.

Want to learn more about the old house you live in? Or searching for historical information about

Redding? If you are new to Redding (or even if you have been here awhile and are curious) we have been hard at work creating a special section where you can easily find books and other historical materials specifically related to Redding, its antique homes and the people who lived here long ago. Be sure to speak to a circulation staff member when you visit the library and ask about this new section in the Library.

Interested in prolific Reddingites? Did you know that Edward Steichen, the revered and famous photographer, lived in and retired to his Redding farm in 1938? His photography books and many others may be checked out from our Art and Photography collection.

And, next time you visit the library, be sure to take a moment and appreciate the statues on our grounds. The one on the left, “Torch Bearers” is by Anna Hyatt Huntington, she lived here too!

Soak up the history and enjoy your surroundings… and see you in the library. g George Avidon is acting Director of Mark Twain Library

Good books for good readers

By Margi Esten

Do you know who Robert Galbraith is? If you don’t, you should. And if you like British detective mysteries with all sorts of interesting subplots….well, keep reading.

Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, the brilliant author of Harry Potter fame. So no wonder these books are so much fun to read, with

some eccentric storylines and wildly kooky characters. Not to mention watching the relationship development between the two protagonists – Cormoran Strike, the one-legged, scraggly but infinitely desirable-to-mostwomen detective, and Robin Ellacott, his assistant and eventual business partner who gets married and divorced by Book Two.

As with most well-written series each book certainly stands on its own, but try to read them in order if you can – way more fun!

Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White, Troubled Blood and the very recently released The Ink Black Heart.

And, p.s. these books are also particularly good via audio. g

Why Redding?

Eliza and Scott chose Redding Ridge

By Jeanne Ammermuller

Eliza Berkowitz, Scott Lapatine and their daughter Molly made Redding Ridge home in January 2021, relocating from Brooklyn.

Eliza is a freelance writer and editor who mostly works on children’s books, and Scott manages a music website called Stereogum which he founded more than 20 years ago. Here’s their story.

How did you hear about Redding?

REDDING GRANGE’S “Fun-Sized” Agricultural Fair 399 Newtown Turnpike Sunday,

October 23rd 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Walk-in contest entries encouraged Entry registration and set up 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Judging starts at 11:00 a.m.

Entries released for pick up at 2:30 p.m.

Win Ribbons for: Weirdest Pumpkin Best Corn - somethingChicken Beauty Contest (Prettiest Chicken) Most Impressive Garden Produce Best Family Recipe Cookies Best Farm–esque Art Best “Overalls” or Farm Costume SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! Contact community@reddinggrange.org for more information

Scott: We cast a wide net when looking for a place to relocate from Brooklyn. We didn’t want to be too far from the city, but we were ready for a quieter existence and more space.

Eliza: We hadn’t considered Connecticut at all. Initially we homed in on South Salem, but weren’t finding anything we were excited about. Our realtor suggested we also look just over the border, in Ridgefield. There, it felt closer to what we were looking for, but still not quite right. And then our new broker showed us some houses in Redding, and it just felt like such a lovely, magical place.

What qualities made it seem like a good place to live?

Eliza: It’s so pretty! I fell in love with the windy, tree-lined roads. We really didn’t know anything about Redding, but I felt like I would forever be in awe of the town’s beauty.

Scott: We wanted good schools, and I liked that I’d be able to get into the city for concerts without too much hassle.

What made you ultimately move here?

Eliza: When we saw our house, we all felt equally excited about it, which was not the case with other places we had seen. We felt so certain that it was the right place for us that we made an offer the same day.

the side of the road. I would love for the town to impose and enforce steep fines for littering.

Scott: More places to get a coffee or quick lunch would be great.

home

What are your favorite things to do in town?

Scott: Our back porch is pretty special. We have a hammock out there and a fire pit nearby. It’s a great spot for relaxing.

Eliza: I love the landscaping.

It’s so nice to have a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. We get lots of bees and butterflies. I could spend all day puttering around in the yard.

Scott: We’ve found great local restaurants, like the Roadhouse, the Wire Mill, and Milestone. We tried Three Keys recently for the first time and it was excellent!

Eliza: The library is a lovely place to browse and get work done.

I love Warrup’s Farm for pumpkin picking in the fall and beautiful vegetable seedlings in the early summer.

What makes special to you?

your

Has anything surprised you about living here?

Scott: There’s so much history—between Mark Twain and the Revolutionary War, lots of interesting things have happened here.

Eliza: I figured that in such a small town, the people would be friendly, but I didn’t anticipate they would be so kind, helpful, and warm. I love that it’s standard practice to say hello to everyone you pass on the street.

What do you like most about living in Redding?

Eliza: Definitely the trees and the wildlife. We’ve seen possums, deer, chipmunks, raccoons, turkeys, and foxes. We even had a snapping turtle for a weeklong visit to our yard.

What would you like to see changed or improved?

Eliza: I hate seeing garbage on

Nearby?

Eliza: I love the farms in Easton, especially Sherwood Farm. Uncle Matt’s in Newtown is my favorite place to get lunch and read a book.

And Bethel is a great little town to walk around and pop into cute shops.

Scott: Putnam Park is great for all the historical details, with scenic trails for an easy walk.

What is your advice for newcomers?

Eliza: If you don’t already have one, get a dog! We got our dog, Lorna, about four months after moving here. You can pretty much guarantee meeting someone new or having a lovely conversation with a neighbor while out walking the dog.

Scott: The people of Redding are extremely kind and welcoming.

Check out the town website for all kinds of information, activities, and events. g

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 9

There is more to CT than I95 l

Until eleven years ago this month Connecticut was just the neighboring state where I bought grain alcohol when home on break from college, a way for me to calculate when I was 2/3s of my way to Newport, Rhode Island without looking at my watch, the home/vacation homes for a few of my friends and an alternative place to take foreign visitors shopping at outlet malls if I didn’t want to go to Woodbury Commons or NJ. Being an avid kayaker (who was single and female), I had promised myself that if I ever saw a fiberglass kayak for a good price,

I would treat myself. While I loved my plastic Wilderness Systems kayak it was 60 lbs and even with a Hullavator® rack getting it on and off a Highlander® and to/ from the put-ins alone wasn’t the easiest. Then on Craigslist was the ad “New fiberglass composite 14’ kayak. Tangent. Cosmetic blemish. $900 Fairfield”. No way—new fiberglass kayak under $1000 -OMG!! BUT what the heck is a “Tangent Kayak”? Never heard of this brand, and I have been looking at fiberglass kayaks forever. There was a photo and the boat looked great—although the beat-up

Blood, sweat and claws l We took our new barn cats to the vet for the first time last week.

It was absolutely traumatizing.

Here’s the problem: They’re not stupid. They noticed the small changes — the new cage in the living room, the way we closed doors that were usually open. The way I didn’t feed them 3 times that morning. (Yes, I’m usually just a little bit way too much of a pushover, and I give them food every time they complain. I’m working on it.) They noticed it all.

We could hear them whispering, “The ogres are up to something.”

More than anything else, I dreaded the moment when we had to put them in the crate. I knew they were going to hate it. In my mind, I kept seeing them cry and run away. Since they never had ever let us pick them up, I was concerned about how to do it. As anyone raised with dogs knows, a cat’s refusal to enthusiastically beg for its ogre to do almost anything is a mystery. And cats are much smaller than Rottweilers. They

REDDING

PARK AND RECREATION’S FALL PROGRAM

BROCHURE IS OUT The Brochure features fitness classes, afterschool sports classes, preschool programs, open gyms, youth tennis and Pickleball classes, art classes, trips and much more.

Register now for all programs either online or through our office.

townofreddingct.org Sign up now to ensure your spot!

garage door background detracted a little from it. I better respond to the ad ASAP before its gone— then do the research on the brand.

My diligent research disclosed articles, videos and ultimately that “Tangent” was the signature brand of Rawson Boat Inc. run by Jeffrey Rawson, a local manufacturer of fiberglass composite kayaks based in Fairfield, CT. The long-awaited Craigslist e-mail response: “The boat is still available. Jeffrey”. We spoke on the phone, I was speaking with Jeffrey Rawson—the president and owner of the company, the designer and builder of the kayaks!

I thought he would be impressed by my research ability and the fact that I had been able to figure out that “Tangent” was a Rawson Boat and that he was the “Jeffrey” as in the owner of the company – but no, his only comment “oh, I guess I forgot the ‘Rawson Boat’- sorry”.

We decided to meet up 8:00 a.m.

Easter Sunday for a test drive. Due to my excitement, it didn’t occur to me until right before I got in the car at 7:00 a.m. that its April, I have no racks on my car and I have no place to store the kayak if I buy it today

and I will be out of the country for the next two weeks. Smart people would have postponed—after all it’s Craigslist—but no, “hey Jeffrey- it’s Karen- I am about to get in the car- if I buy the kayak can I leave it at your shop for two weeks while I am out of the country? I forgot I don’t have racks on my car or any place to store it” Jeffery “Sure” (Jeffrey probably thinking ‘I will get the money and get to sell the kayak again to someone who is not an idiot’). I show up at the address Jeffrey had given me (which I assumed was his shop) and I am starting to get a little worried as it looks like a rundown house and I go around the back as instructed and there sitting in a lawn chair in front of a little run-down cottage is a nice looking guy (!) in sunglasses—and the kayak! We introduce ourselves and Jeffrey explains the kayak to me (his kayaks are patented and have some neat functions and this one had a skeg in addition to a rudder), we went for a quick kayak on the Sound and I bought the boat! I loved it!! Jeffrey said it was no problem for me to leave the boat while I was overseas for two weeks

on business. He knew that after the overseas trip I was immediately going into a six-week trial where I would only be home on weekends.

While I was overseas he called me to see if I wanted to go kayaking on the day I was supposed to pick up the kayak instead of just picking up the kayak (of course—first I love kayaking, second he was cute!). We went kayaking that day and he suggested that I leave the kayak at his shop so that we could go kayaking on the weekends in between trial (not so he could sell it). We have been together ever since. Who would have thought I would have met someone through Craigslist of all places (neither of us had ever even tried any form of Internet dating)! I guess you could say I sort of bought him too.

Connecticut now holds a much different place in my life. g

No claws. And this gave me a chance to re-evaluate my diabolical schemes.

As I sat there watching the vet put the second cat back in the carrier, it dawned on me: I had just spent too much time and energy focusing on what I DIDN’T want.

How much time is “too much” time focusing on what you don’t want? Any time at all.

This isn’t “think positive.”

It’s “DON’T THINK AT ALL.” Because what you focus on, you create. When you’re in a negative emotional state, you are attuned like a radio to the negative emotion you are experiencing and you will only bring yourself more negativity, more events that are in that same vibration. So, worrying creates an outcome worth worrying about.

When you’re in fear, you receive thoughts that produce more fear. If, when you’re in fear, you put your thoughts into action, you will get more fear-generating results back.

How does someone get around this? Stop thinking. Don’t think

of an elephant as quickly as possible. And start focusing all your attention on FEELING what the perfect outcome would feel like. Feel it and allow that feeling to grow. Maybe even talk with someone you trust about it. In this way, you can deepen and heighten the feeling of having the perfect outcome. As you develop this positive energy, it is sent out in search of more positive outcomes.

You don’t have to know what that outcome might be. You don’t need to envision it. Just feel it.

I’m quite sure the result will be better than how we handled the beginning of that day. g

By Lisa Tancredi

could hide for days without us finding them.

So I started coming up with all sorts of machinations to make it work. And I enlisted my husband as co-conspirator.

This was the plan: Pick them up by the back of the neck, put a towel around them and tuck them into the crate like little baby sloths in cute little sloth sleeping bags that I had seen in Costa Rica some years ago. Perhaps this would have been a good time to note that sloths are animals that excrete only once a week because it takes them that long to climb down from their tree.

Sloths will not fight back. Sloths in a sleeping bag stare and smile. But I digress. And while I digressed, I built up more anxiety over how this would work until finally the day arrived.

To my surprise, the first step worked like a charm. My husband picked the first one up by the back of the neck and I came over with the towel to cradle it. Fabulous.

But the cat wiggled and struggled

Most Fall programs in the RCC Gym will begin September 26 with many programs beginning earlier.

By Karen Staff

and hissed and was so much stronger than I had given her credit for. Then the towel slipped and the claws came out and it was every man for himself.

Four pints of blood later, we had two cats safely shoved into a crate with three towels, a clump of tissues and a wad of hair. Just don’t ask.

They cried most of the way to the vet, while we could barely get past our own stupidity. Our entire conversation was some version of this on repeat: “What are we doing!”

“Why!!! Why did we think this was a good idea!” “‘They’re never going to talk to us ever again.”

Once we got to the vet, though, magic came in. The vet was calm and quiet and gentle. She had clearly done this before. She spent time with them, comforted them, and when the time was right, she took them out of the cage one at a time for the exam. The cats were relaxed and quiet and acquiescent.

10 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

The best job ever l

By Laura Conley

The Metropolitan Museum

Retirement: a dreaded word, yet full of promise. Would I lose my identity, not having a real job? Would I fall into a lonely black hole? Or would I use my oceans of free time to become a superb pianist (note: I play viola, not piano), while writing a bestselling travel memoir and cooking gourmet meals on a daily basis?

Enter The Metropolitan Museum’s Docent Program, wiping away all of the above fears and pipe dreams.

A friend engineered for me to be interviewed for the next “class.”

Most years the Met Volunteer Organization takes in about twenty new recruits who will begin their training together. Being admitted called for a celebration as there are typically about two hundred applicants, many of whom have resumés featuring solid art backgrounds.

However, The Met does not emphasize prior knowledge of art history; rather,

the docents in training have to learn things The Met Way. The training year started in September with the signing of contracts specifying our total commitment to the program. First task: talking to our class for five minutes about an object we did not know, after just looking at it; research was not allowed. My object was a very big ancient Egyptian statue of a scribe. I spent an hour circling it, making notes of every tiny thing I could see.

Like everyone else in the group I was shaking in my boots when it was my turn to present; I had thought that after retirement any tests would be a thing of the past.

How wrong I was! This exercise was our introduction to the art of Visual Analysis.

Every week someone from one of the nineteen Curatorial Departments (mini museums in themselves) presented their

galleries to us. These lectures were a veritable graduate course in art history, thanks to the Met’s encyclopedic collections. We also learnt how to use the fabulous online resources of “Watson,” the Met’s main library (open to the public!), essential for the many papers we had to write.

Those of us assigned to give school tours had many hours of special instruction in teaching methodology. We were to use the Socratic method at all times, asking only open questions, avoiding any lecturing and questions that might get wrong answers. Not: “Who is the goddess on this Greek vase?” but rather “What has the artist done to make you see this is Athena?”

After many months each of us had to start to create our own tour, researching every one of our eight or nine objects to the hilt, and writing a presentation on each.

For the school guides this meant devising groups of questions that would get to the core of the object in about five minutes. Not an easy task, as you had to make it work for kids from grade school through high school. In June came the dreaded audit by our leaders; fortunately, almost all of us in the class of 2005 passed.

School tours were wonderful and awful and everything in between. Uninterested teachers could kill a tour, but if you managed to grab the attention of at least part of the group, usually about 15 kids, it was gratifying to see them soak up what they suddenly saw.

What is the Be Foundation? l The purchaser of the Georgetown Bible Church is the Be Foundation. The foundation plans to renovate the magnificent old building and transform it into an arts and culture center for Redding and surrounding towns.

Who or what is the Be Foundation? The family foundation is based in Redding. It is a

private grant-making foundation recognized by the IRS since 2012.

It was founded by Greg and Cathy Young and Richard Wenning is the Executive Director. According to Guidestar and ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer, the foundation has assets between six and seven million dollars.

Be Foundation's mission is

There were challenges galore.

To this day we walk our route right before the tour to ascertain our objects are there. One morning I was late and failed to walk my tour.

I was rather taken aback to find the huge sculpture of six figures, larger than life size, Rodin’s “Burghers of Calais” gone.

One school always requested we avoid any nudity. This is extremely difficult to do in the Met, but we managed to find a route so that we could just power by the nudes seen from the back, not allowing time for the kids to turn around.

I fondly remember a tour for just four students from a Bronx high school. They were not boys but men, at least 18, towering over me. I was blown away by how they analyzed the movements of the characters in the paintings, explaining what they thought was going on. I think they were much more attuned to body language than most, having grown up in an often hostile environment.

They were blissfully free of any inhibition; the straight talk and laughter was exhilarating.

After five years as a school guide, I applied for a spot in an adult “collection tour.” Such tours allow a docent to delve into the objects of one of the Curatorial Departments more in depth. It also means lots more research, papers, and audits. I now give tours in American Art and “Great Paintings,” which emphasizes iconic paintings from all over the world and many different eras.

Every three years all four hundred docents are evaluated in every tour we give. Three of our peers join a live tour without the visitors realizing they are docents.

The evaluation follows a rigorous format, and the feedback is usually most helpful. This makes all of us stay on our toes.

Who are we? The weekday docents are usually retirees; most are women, but the number of men is increasing. Weekend docents include many working people.

Tours are given in ten languages; the non-English tours are almost always given by native speakers.

The pandemic brought all docent tours in the Met to a halt.

I was fortunate to be asked to give online tours, which helped me stay involved. As of now, a full array of tours is available. Being back with visitors in the galleries and getting together again with colleagues and friends is a joy. g

One of the foundation’s significant grantees is SpreadMusicNow, Inc., a public non-profit that supports music education for Connecticut’s young people. SpreadMusicNow, co-founded by Greg Young and Richard Wenning, funds music education in and out of the classroom that puts underserved

students on a path to college, career, and life success. SpreadMusicNow has been a tax-exempt organization since 2018.

Greg and Cathy Young and Richard Wenning are Redding residents. g

By Susan Clark

to support improvement in the educational outcomes of young people in Connecticut and the vitality of their communities. The foundation pursues this mission by investing both financial and human resources in its grantees.

Importantly, Be Foundation makes multi-year investments in organizations.

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 11

Business Spotlight Looking for beer and camaraderie? Nod Hill Brewery has you covered l

Biergarten

After developing a penchant for homebrewing and working in bars, restaurants, and even a pub in the U.K., David Kaye — along with his father, wife, and good friend — decided it was time to share their love of beer with the world.

Following a year of planning, developing recipes, and building out the space, Nod Hill Brewery, located at 137 Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield, opened its doors to the public in October 2017.

Since then, Nod Hill’s growth has been impressive. Out of the gate, the brewery offered six beers, including Geobunny, its flagship IPA. As the company started to scale, they added more tank capacity, which enabled them to brew more beer, including other

styles that Kaye said are underrepresented by other breweries — like Belgian-inspired ales, lagers, witbiers, and English-style bitters.

“We’ve been aggressive. Any time we make a little money, we reinvest it in our company,” said Kaye, who grew up in Redding and is Nod Hill’s general manager.

“We’ve probably brewed 120 or 130 beers since we opened, with 30 or 40 of them settling into a rotation.”

In addition to expanding its arsenal of beers, Nod Hill has also further built out its facility.

“When we first opened, we had our brewery space and our taproom, which was just under 1,500 square feet,” Kaye said.

“After our first year, we wanted to get more space for the public.

Your government at work l In the June issue of the Sentinel, First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton wrote an article entitled Your Government at Work – a Primer. A reader asked if we could turn that article into a graphic.

Below is our attempt to

illustrate Julia’s article and clarify governmental roles in town. Please note we have not included the fire departments and EMS services but pledge to do so in a future issue.

Redding has a town meeting form of government, so you see

There were times we couldn’t fit everyone, and we were also getting inquiries about private events.”

Since they had extra room in the building, the Nod Hill team began coming up with a plan to create a multi-use event space in the back.

“We just started doing demolition, and then COVID hit,” Kaye explained. “Everything was super uncertain. We didn’t know when it was going to end.”

At this point, the brewery pivoted and set up picnic tables outside in its parking lot, which turned out to be quite popular.

Realizing that it wasn’t realistic to continue losing tons of parking space but that the brewery absolutely needed an outdoor environment in the COVID and post-COVID era, Kaye and his partners scoured the property to see where they could add an outdoor space with the least impact on the environment. Lo and behold, Nod Hill’s biergarten was born.

“We wanted to offer up something really nice,” Kaye

said. “We had all this unused, overgrown land. After a little bit of hardscaping and excavation, we realized we could make a decentsize space while doing something good for the environment, getting rid of invasives, and cleaning up a side of the Norwalk River.”

Speaking of the environment: For the last three years, Nod Hill has been entirely powered by solar energy. Same with the other businesses housed at the facility -a speech pathologist and Riverside Fence, which Kaye’s dad owns.

“The whole building is covered in solar panels,” Kaye said. “We can generate enough power for everyone here and even pump excess electricity back into the grid.”

After opening the biergarten, the Nod Hill team returned its focus to the event space. In 2021, they unveiled the Backspace, a 1,500-square foot space that can accommodate up to 100 people and can be rented out for private events and is also used for live music and comedy.

Nod Hill’s beers are available throughout the state, with 75% of its wholesale business occurring in Fairfield County, according to Kaye.

“You’ll find our beers in most liquor stores within a 10 or 15 mile radius,” Kaye said. “We’re also available at local restaurants.”

By Susan Clark, with thanks to First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton

Residents at the top of this graphic.

Everything important in town goes either to a town meeting or referendum for decision.

Supporting the Board of Selectmen are key departments, boards and commissions. You’ll

see in the key to the graphic that we distinguish between roles that are appointed and those that are elected. All work together to keep Redding moving forward. g

By Justin Reynolds

While Nod Hill doesn’t serve food, it does partner with several different food trucks, including On the Fly, which is owned by Jeff Taibe, the culinary force behind Bethel’s Taproot Restaurant.

“When we were starting to open the biergarten, I asked Jeff to be the resident food truck, and he agreed,” Kaye explained. “We work together hand-in-hand and collaborate on things, like beer dinners and pairings in the winter.”

In addition to On the Fly, Nod Hill brings in a rotating stable of roughly 10 food trucks on Saturdays and holidays.

Whether you’ve frequented Nod Hill or have never been, you might want to stop by the brewery for Fest Season, a monthlong Oktoberfest celebration that runs through Oct. 9.

“We’ll have a ton of Germanstyle beers, some through gravity casks, big steins, German music, and German food, with no tickets or anything,” Kaye said. “It’s our favorite time of the year.”

For more on Nod Hill — including a virtual tour of the brewery, a list of upcoming events, and information about their beers, the brewery’s approach to sustainability, and its Stone Mug Society — visit www. nodhillbrewery.com g

12 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Open Farmhouse seeks to provide equitable access to farmland to the community and beyond

Photo by Bill Hill

Cody Jacobs and Lincoln Hill at Open Farmhouse on Warrup’s Farm.

While Redding residents have a seemingly endless number of options to choose from when it comes to connecting with nature, not everyone is as fortunate. To give those folks a chance to experience what life is like on a farm, Lincoln Hill and Cody Jacobs created Open Farmhouse — a space to farm, live, and create — at Warrup’s Farm, 11 John Read Road.

“I grew up here in Redding at Warrup’s Farm, and my family has been here since the 1700s,” Hill said. Way back in the day, a daughter from the Read family married a Hill, and the newlyweds were deeded the parcel that houses the farm and Open Farmhouse today.

Not everyone has an opportunity to live on a farm — or even visit one. By providing the opportunity to rent out the farmhouse for weekend stays, weeklong stays, and even monthlong stays, the Open Farmhouse team hopes to provide a glimpse of farm life to those who want to see it.

“We want to provide equitable access to farmland and open up this land to make it more accessible, not just to the Redding community but the surrounding area and even further,” said Cody Jacobs, Hill’s partner who moved to Redding during the pandemic.

Hill and Jacobs met in Montreal, where they both went to school.

There, they got involved in the

l

By Justin Reynolds

food sovereignty movement and co-founded a cooperative for brewers, making beer using local ingredients.

“We got interested in starting non-traditional businesses and social impact projects,” Jacobs said. “The cooperative movement has seven principles. We’re not a cooperative, but those principles influenced our way of wanting to make a positive impact on the community and the environment.”

Through offering farmstays, educational events, and sustainability programming, Open Farmhouse hopes to make a social impact and build a community that “fosters connection to the land” and “plants seeds for cultural renewal,” according to the group’s website.

Primarily, Open Farmhouse attracts people working in social impact causes, small business owners, and members of the creative community. But as Jacobs explains, anyone is welcome.

The farmhouse — which was built in the 1800s and has been renovated a handful of times since then, including a lot of work done

by Hill and Jacobs to prepare the space for visitors — offers five bedrooms, private offices, a yoga room, a collaborative co-working space, a library, and even a taproom with a brick oven and a small bar.

Visitors also enjoy the property’s public hiking trail and gardens, where they’re able to pick fresh vegetables for meals and eat al

fresco on the farmhouse’s spacious outdoor patio.

“We’re actively farming the land as sustainably as possible,” Jacobs said. “One of our biggest projects is the kitchen garden that is directly behind the home. People can pick from the garden and have direct engagement with the land with the hope that it inspires them.”

Open Farmhouse was launched in February 2020 — right around the time a global pandemic began brewing. While the pandemic was no doubt a challenge, Open Farmhouse passed it with flying colors.

“We did monthlong stays during the pandemic, acting as a pod for one month at a time,” Hill said.

“Folks could work remotely, and we had a community agreement about staying put. Luckily, no one got sick.”

As the world slowly moves past the pandemic, Open Farmhouse is opening back up. This summer, the team hosted a potluck series which brought neighbors and members of the community together to break bread.

“Since the pandemic has become less intense, we’re broadening our community and those who engage with the space,” Jacobs said. “Now, we’re doing short-term rentals.

People can come and go, and we’re hopeful that this allows the space to be more multi-purpose.”

Looking ahead, Open Farmhouse plans to open up bookings in the late

fall and winter and host a number of community events in 2023.

Warrup’s Farm has been an operational farm for many years, with Hill’s parents growing organic vegetables since the 1970s. While the farm no longer has a farmstand or a farmer’s market, it does sell maple syrup in the spring.

Warrup’s is perhaps best known for pumpkin picking in October; if you need a pumpkin next month, Hill encourages you to stop by any weekend.

“Open Farmhouse is a project of Warrup’s Farm. We’re creating something new that is tied to our traditions and breathing new life into what the property will be in the future,” Hill said. “We like being a place where different people of different walks of life can connect.”

To learn more about Open Farmhouse and its upcoming events, visit https://openfarmhouse. com/ and follow them on Instagram @openfarmhouse. g

Photos by Debora DeCarlo Rosa The annual CT United motorcycle ride began at Sherwood Island in Westport and traveled through ten Connecticut towns in honor and memory of 9/11 first responders and those who lost their lives that day. About 3,000 bikers ride sixty miles each year to raise funds for 9/11 victims.

groups/336865775297644 JOIN THE SENTINEL TEAM Would you like to join the Sentinel team?

1.

We’re looking for someone to find advertisers for us.

Please write to advertising@reddingsentinel.org if you’re interested in sales and would like more information. Part-time 2.

We’re looking for an editor. You should know – or be willing to learn – Redding, be organized, collaborative, and write well. Please write to publisher@reddingsentinel.org if you’re interested and would like more information.

Full or part-time 3.

We’re looking for a community reporter. Must be available some evenings to cover town board and commission meetings. Please write to editor@reddingsentinel.org if you’re interested and would like more information. Full or part-time 4.

We’d like to add to our graphic design and layout team. If you know InDesign, please e-mail publisher@reddingsentinel.org for more information. Part-time

Have you subscribed to the Sentinel yet?

Visit www.reddingsentinel.org/subscribe to place your order to be sure you don’t miss an issue.

Would you like to advertise in the Sentinel?

Visit www.reddingsentinel.org/advertise to learn more, or write to advertise@reddingsentinel.org

Please tell us what you think of the Sentinel.

We want to cover what you want to know. Please write to editor@reddingsentinel.org with comments or ideas.

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 13

The Natural World

Animals and Pets

Wildlife’s Year Autumn l By Elizabeth Jensen Managing your backyard invasives: Japanese Barberry damaging

than leaf blowers.

Areas under trees and bushes are especially vital. Many small animals and the food they need to survive hibernate in leaves.

If leaves must be removed, fall cleanup is somewhat less damaging than spring cleanup – so consider removing your leaves at the end of fall rather than spring.

By Jeanne Ammermuller

• Stop spraying your yard. A 2019 article in Science reported that neonicotinoids, a widely used group of pesticides, have been shown to have negative impacts on an increasing number of species. According to Peter Reid from Wildlife in Crisis “When you spray the whole property, you are spraying all the bugs that the birds eat. WIC has seen a steadily increasing rate of birds showing neurological distress.”

Japanese Barberry

Once a popular plant for hedges, Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a thorny shrub that has become a pervasive (and persistent) presence in forest understories across Connecticut.

According to Native Plant Trust, it was first introduced in the US in 1875 and by 1910 was recognized as a frequent garden escapee. It is spread primarily by birds, who love the small red berries.

In Redding, it has become a persistent problem in preserved land, including on Redding Land Trust and Town of Redding properties. It can be most obvious in early spring when it is often the first plant to leaf out.

Barberry figures prominently on the Dirty Dozen+ list created over a decade ago by Saving Natural Redding, a community group. The list includes Japanese Barberry, Japanese Knotweed, Oriental Bittersweet, Winged Euonymous, Purple Loosestrife, Black Swallow Wort, Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven), Garlic Mustard, Multiflora Rose, Autumn Olive, Japanese Honeysuckle, Japanese Stilt Grass and Norway Maple. “I would definitely add pervasive European Privet to the list today,” says Stuart Green, Conservation Commission member and longtime leader of Redding’s Trail Tenders.

While Barberry and other invasive plants do act as food sources for many birds and animals, they pose a significant risk to natural ecosystems. “As invasive plants displace native plants the complex biodiversity of our forest, wetland and meadow habitats is diminished,” says Green. “The problem is more than just the loss of one plant for another, because invasives tend to form unhealthy ‘monocultures’ of a single species.

This threatens the entire web of relationships between plants, animals, pollinators, fungi, and other organisms that is the natural ecosystem.”

In high concentrations, Barberry is also associated with higher Lyme disease risk. The UCONN

Invasive Plant Fact sheet explains, “Higher densities of rodent hosts and deer ticks prefer to shelter under barberry than under native shrubs. When populations of barberry are controlled, fewer mice and ticks are present.”

But how to deal with Barberry?

It actually can be controlled, especially if it is removed before it spreads significantly. Gordon Loery, co-president of the Redding Land Trust Board of Trustees, sees Barberry as “about the most prevalent and problematic invasive on most RLT properties.” It is also a focus of the Land Trust’s Decade of Stewardship effort.

While, Barberry can be removed by digging, that approach disturbs soil and can encourage new invasives. “The Conservation Commission learned a technique from the Nature Conservancy that is also effective,” says Green.

“First the barberry plant is cut just above ground with a brush saw and then a bit later as the plant struggles to produce new shoots the remaining plant and basal root are burned with a high BTU backpack propane torch. This method avoids disturbing the soil or using herbicide.” Herbicides are avoided wherever possible to protect Redding’s watershed. He recommends tackling the plants in early spring (before leaf-out) before other plants and invasives shoot up.

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) is a valuable resource for identifying and addressing invasive plants and includes a management calendar on its website. cipwg.uconn.edu.

For those interested in learning more, the CIPWG is offering a virtual symposium on November 3, Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants: Assess, Remove, Replace, and Restore. Details will be posted to their website. g Jeanne Ammermuller is a member of the Redding Land Trust Board of Trustees

Photo by Elizabeth Jensen A snag on Sport Hill Road

To many here in the Northeast, the change of the seasons is a metronome that marks the passage of time in our lives. When it comes to wildlife, nature’s seasons come with key needs to be met -- and finding resources in the proper quantities and at the proper time of year is essential for survival.

Indeed, mere survival is becoming harder and harder for our wild friends. According to a study published in Science magazine in 2019, nearly 3 billion birds have disappeared from North America since 1970 – a decline that scientists marked as “staggering.”

Many common backyard species like sparrows, finches, and blackbirds are greatly affected. Even non-native species that have traditionally thrived in North America, like starlings and house sparrows, are also disappearing. And the decline is not just in bird populations. World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2020 stated that known populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish declined an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016.

The good news is that each and every person has the chance to do something about it. Our individual opportunity is well brought to light by Doug Tallamy – author of Nature’s Best Hope and Bringing Nature Home – whose books explain how our native plants and native animals have co-evolved, how their fates are inextricably linked, and how we can help. Wildlife in Crisis, a critical wildlife rehabilitation resource close to home in Weston, has put together a fact sheet called

Living Harmoniously with Native Wildlife, and says that the majority of the 20,000 annual calls it receives about animals in distress could be avoided by following some simple rules.

So here are some practical fall tips to help our wildlife in Redding: • Leave trees standing. Even dead ones (called snags) are incredibly beneficial to wildlife.

If safety is a concern, remove branches and leave a ‘telephone pole’ for animals to continue to find food in and shelter. Prioritize old growth and mature trees, as they create the most food and shelter for animals.

• If tree work cannot be avoided, October and very early November are best times to do it. Most babies will be out of their nests, and the majority of winter homes are not built yet. (Note: Spring and early summer are the WORST times for wildlife to do tree work.)

• If raccoons or other animals denning in your attic or chimney is a concern, now is a good time to trim back branches that allow access to your roof.

• Consider reserving a portion of your property in its natural state. Most American yards are ‘ecological deserts’. Even small untouched areas can be helpful to wildlife.

• Hang bird feeders as far away from your home as possible and take them down at night. Bears are very active now and need to eat 20,000 calories a day to prepare for winter. Keep garbage in bear-proof containers or closed securely in your garage. A little ammonia in a garbage can will mask food odors. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are now bulking up for winter.

• Finally, knowing winter is not far behind, it’s a great time to start planning for it. Consider installing winter roosting boxes for birds.

Roosting boxes are larger than spring bird houses and allow many birds to huddle together for warmth, and have perches inside.

It’s also a good time to order bird water heaters that will keep water from freezing in winter months.

In closing, a quote from Dara Reid, Director of Wildlife in Crisis “As suburban sprawl has overtaken Fairfield County, we are now more than ever stewards of the wild animals that live amongst us.

We can all make a difference for wildlife from bears to butterflies, by being good stewards. Enlighten your neighbors. Leave mature trees standing. Don’t use pesticides, rodenticides or herbicides, and work towards banning them.

Allow half your lawn to grow into a life-giving meadow. Don’t trap wildlife, leave them be. Keep cats indoors and supervise your dogs.

It’s really easy and so fulfilling to live in harmony with nature.” g Donations to Wildlife in Crisis can be sent to: Wildlife in Crisis, Inc. P.O. Box 1246 Weston, CT 06883

• Keep an eye on drought conditions and put water out for wildlife. Shallow containers with a few rocks in them allow safe drinking spots for even the tiniest creatures.

• Leave leaves as much as possible. Using rakes is less

Connecticut

Album Release Party Friday, October 28 Doors open at 7:00 PM | Show at 8:00 PM Tickets: $20 | All Ages Bijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06605 100% of your ticket purchase supports music education for Connecticut students. Music Empowers!

Toe-tapping Connecticut Country!

North County Band embodies country music from Connecticut. Performing a mix of originals and covers from Allman to Grateful, Waylon to Dwight, Wilco to Skynyrd, they are sure to get any wallflower dancing.

This event celebrates the release of their debut album "Connecticut" and supports Redding-based SpreadMusicNow. The title track is a love song to a woman, inviting her back to our great state of Connecticut. Anyone from the area will appreciate the references to the Huskies, the shoreline, and local greats like Mark Twain and Helen Keller.

14 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022 New life for the church, Georgetown Bible Church sold to local foundation Continued from page 1

We have had a building envelope analysis completed and an environmental screening and are talking to different potential firms for next steps. The renovations needed will be extensive and may take two years to complete.

Ensuring that the property is accessible to our community is important to us.

art exhibits, music education, food preparation, small businesses, artist studios and community meetings.

2. Once the building is completed, how will it be managed? Will you set up a board? How will you incorporate resident input?

We understand that the zoning for the building itself will need to change but not the property. I look forward to learning about all of the steps necessary to bring about the redevelopment as a key step toward the larger Gilbert and Bennett project.

We expect to manage the building as a nonprofit community space and SpreadMusicNow, the public charity Greg and I founded, will be involved. We will consider governance changes as the redevelopment process progresses.

However, long before the building opens, we will solicit input from potential partners and local residents related to the mix of possible uses. In fact, if any of your readers have ideas for how the space could be used or are interested in joining us as investors or other stakeholders, they should send them to GraniteChurch@ BeFoundation.org. We hope to model the kind of transparency and community engagement around the Church that will be necessary to also bring about the redevelopment vision for the much larger Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill campus.

Photo by ??? of local built For more than 120 years the imposing Georgetown Bible Church, its purWith granite, has been a focal point of the Georgetown Historic District. culture, and chase by the BE foundation and envisioned use as a center for arts there’s a new life in store for the building in the heart of the community.

3. Could you expand on your ideas for how the space will be used? Will it be available for rent?

Photo by Richard Wenning

built in this style at that time, including buttresses and pointed arch windows, a square main tower, and a round turret with a conical roof.

To the rear of the church is a small cemetery containing the graves of Edwin and Elizabeth Gilbert.

The Sentinel was able to put questions to the new buyers.

1. How will the renovation be managed?

Have you selected a design firm? Will you seek resident input? Will the renovation include ADA compliance?

At this point, we are in a discussion and research phase.

Rich Wenning will oversee the renovation on behalf of Be Foundation and we will select a team to plan and execute on the renovation that shares our vision for both process and outcome.

Yes, we do expect to offer it for rent for private and town events.

SpreadMusicNow will likely use it for a concert series it hosts but we also envision making it available to other organizations and neighboring towns for concerts, speakers, films, art exhibits, weddings, historical tours and other purposes. The basement could become space for

4. Are there any use restrictions given that its land use designation is as a church?

Being in BC zone should mitigate that land use designation but just checking.

5. Is the Georgetown Village Restoration group involved at all?

We have talked about the renovation of the Church with representatives of Georgetown Village Restoration, Inc. (GVR) and look forward to partnering with them as much as possible. Our goal is to have widespread town support for the redevelopment and that means listening and partnering to bring about a great outcome.

6. Do you have plans for the 0.88 acre land itself?

It’s a lovely property bordered by the Norwalk River on a shady side. We could imagine some café seating there and local restaurants or food trucks serving food at community gatherings. Along the roadside, perhaps a nice pollinator pathway to model all the beauty and benefit of native wildflowers.

We look forward to gathering ideas. g

Experience the pinnacle of friendship.

A toast by our fire pit is a perfect metaphor for the warm and gracious welcome you will feel as a new resident of Meadow Ridge. Walk down the halls and receive friendly greetings from our residents and associates, who will quickly bring you into the fold of life here. One or more of our dozens of activities, programs, clubs or committees are sure to appeal to you, connecting you with new like-minded friends to share a meal, a good chat or a nice glass of wine by the fire.

To find out more, call 203-601-6450 or visit MeadowRidge.com

Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

100 Redding Road | Redding, CT 06896 Managed by Benchmark Senior Living

September 15, 2022 l Redding Sentinel l 15

Calendar of Events Food Tuesdays - Sundays Open for season Pick Your Own apples 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Blue Jay Orchards 125 Plumtrees Road Bethel bluejayorchardsct.com

Saturday, Sept. 24 Outdoor Artist Talk: David Shaw with Curator Richard Klein 4:00 p.m.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art Courtyard 258 Main St. Ridgefield thealdrich.org

g

Events

Music

Fairs and Festivals

Sunday, Sept. 18

Saturday, Sept. 17

Friday, Sept. 16, Saturday, Sept. 17, Sunday, Sept. 18

Multiverse Expo (Comicon) Costume contests, games, entertainment 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bethel Library Lawn and Greenwood Avenue Bethel www.learningstreams.com/ multiverse

g

Sunday, Sept. 18, 25 Georgetown Farmers Market 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

4 Old Mill Road Georgetown geremiagardens@yahoo.com g

Sunday, Sept. 25 Annual Mushroom Walk 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Joe and Cathy Brandt CT/Westchester Mycological Association New Pond Farm 101 Marchant Road West Redding newpondfarm.org

Arts Thursday, Sept. 15 Wildlife paintings of artist Marcia Fitzgibbons Talks on work in Africa 5:00 p.m.

Easton Library 691 Morehouse Road Easton eastonlibrary.org/art-exhibits g

Saturday, Sept. 17 45th Annual Juried Exhibition 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Ridgefield Guild of Artists 34 Halpin Lane Ridgefield rgoa.org g

Saturday, Sept. 17 1-Day Impressionist Painting Workshop 10:00 a.m.

Weir Farm National Historical Park 735 Nod Hill Road Wilton 203-834-1896 ext. 28

Books Monday, Sept. 19 Author Talk w/ Frankie Ann Marcille - Yes, The Story of A Dreamer 5:00 p.m.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org g

Thursday, Sept. 22 Conversations: Censorship & Race - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 7:30 p.m. (Virtual) Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org g

Thursday, Sept. 29 Meet the Poet: Suzanne Frischkorn 7:30 p.m.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org

g

Saturday, Oct. 1 Themed Gallery Tour of 52 Artists: A Feminist Milestone 1:00 p.m.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art 258 Main St. Ridgefield thealdrich.org

Programs Thursday, Sept. 15 History Close to Home — Native Americans & Early Settlers… It’s Complicated 7:30 p.m. (in person and virtual) Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org g

Saturday, Sept. 17 Hidden History, Women’s Coalition Walking Tour 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Westport Museum 25 Avery Place Westport westporthistory.org

Thursday, Sept. 22 Pop-up “welcome fall” celebration 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Redding Grange 399 Newtown Turnpike Open to all but let us know if you’re coming, if possible community@reddinggrange.com 917 797 3898

Fundraisers Saturday, Sept. 17 Rock at the Y Outdoor Concert fundraiser for Riverbrook Regional YMCA 5:30 - 11:00 p.m.

404 Danbury Road, Wilton Riverbrookymca.org

Thursday, Sept. 22 Blueprints & Blue Jeans Housatonic Habitat for Humanity 6:30 p.m.

Lounsbury House 316 Main Street Ridgefield housatonichabitat.org

Fall Astronomy Program 7:30 p.m.

New Pond Farm 101 Marchant Road West Redding newpondfarm.org g

Monday, Sept. 26 Redding Reelers Fall Series: Marvelous Mavericks 7:30 p.m. (Virtual) Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org g

Wednesday, Sept. 28 Innovations in Protecting our Global Environment and Communities Panel Discussion 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Grace Farms 365 Luke’s Wood Road New Canaan gracefarms.org

g

Saturday, Oct. 1 Monday, Oct. 3 Minks to Sinks Sale Sat., 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sun., 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mon., 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Under the tents 395 Danbury Road (corner of School Road) Wilton familyandchildrensagency.org/ minks-to-sink g

Friday, October 28 SpreadMusicNow North County Band Album Release Party 8:00 p.m.

Supports music education for Connecticut students Bijou Theatre 275 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport northcountyband.com

Children /Families

g

Thursday, Sept. 29 The Future of Education Panel Discussion 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Grace Farms 365 Luke’s Wood Road New Canaan gracefarms.org

Friday, Sept. 16 Fall Origami Workshop with Masako 4:00 p.m. In-person for grades 5-12 Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org g

Saturday, Sept. 17 Family day: activities, crafts, lunch, salsa music 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Grace Farms 365 Luke’s Wood Road New Canaan gracefarms.org g

Wednesday, Sept. 28 Paperback Pumpkin DIY Workshop 10:30 a.m.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road Redding marktwainlibrary.org

Newtown Arts Festival Hours vary Fairfield Hills Newtown Newtownartsfestival.com

g

g

Sunday, Sept. 18

Sunday, Sept. 18

Pianist Maxim Lando 3:00 p.m.

Visual & Performing Arts Center Western Connecticut State University Westside Campus 43 Lake Ave. Ext. Danbury danburyconcert.org g

Thursday, Sept. 22 Flamenco & Paella, a live dance performance 12:30 p.m.

Heritage Center 37 Lonetown Road Redding For information call 203.938.9725 or e-mail mstillman@ townofreddingct.org g

g

g

Saturday, Sept. 17

Swingin’ 1940s Show with Vince Giordano and the Mini Hawks 7 2:00 p.m.

Weston Historical Society 104 Weston Road Weston westonhistoricalsociety.org

Saturday, Sept. 24 Sunday Sept. 25 Sound on Sound Fest 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Seaside Park, 1 Barnum Dyke Bridgeport soundonsoundct.com g

Thursday, Sept. 29 Concert: Inspired by 52 Artists: Music for Voices 6:00 p.m.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art 258 Main St. Ridgefield thealdrich.org

Honey Harvest Festival 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens 151 Brookdale Road Stamford bartlettarboretum.org g

Saturday, Sept. 24 Redding Artisan Fair 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

First Church of Christ Congregational 25 Cross Highway Redding info: firstchurchredding.org g

Sunday, Sept. 25 Ridgefield’s Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off 10:00 a.m.

Ballard Park Main Street Ridgefield g

Friday, Sept. 30 Fall Fair 2022 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

New Canaan Nature Center 144 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan newcanaannature.org

16 l Redding Sentinel l September 15, 2022

Prestige. Pedigree. Power.

THE GLOBAL LUXURY DIFFERENCE

Mike Anderson 203.770.3349

Peri Bartro 203.240.5919

Susan Bryant 203.257.6881

Kim Cuniberti 203.733.6976

Tim Dent 203.470.5605

Lara DiBari Tersigni 203.482.2790

Donna DiBartolo 203.858.0597

Margi Esten 203.241.8453

John Frey 203.240.0624

Liz Furrer 203.733.0678

Sarah Nicole Goguen 773.343.6498

Debbie Gore 203.417.5692

Joanne Grasso 203.733.9344

Jefferson Guthrie 203.788.9400

Carol Hanlon 203.240.1233

George Hanlon 203.240.1234

Deb Haws 203.241.7977

Sharon Hoverman 203.733.5073

Charlie Knoche 203.731.7770

Coldwell Banker Realty remains the only Real Estate Brokerage with an office in the Town of Redding. Coldwell Banker Realty has been the number one office in the Town of Redding for the past 50 years.

Contact one of our award-winning REALTORS® from our Redding office.

They know Redding and have the experience and historical knowledge needed to assist you with your home sale and/or purchase.

Susan Kordas 203.536.7383

Jodi Langford 203.733.8804

Marge Lanzara 203.994.5301

Heather Lindgren 646.932.4075

Carissa McMahon 203.442.4159

Heather Payne 203.470.7069

Lisa Pompeo 203.240.2937

Anne Schmiedel 203.470.9159

Denise Taylor 860.977.3699

Kim Taylor 203.610.3529

Kenn/Betsy Olbrych 203.526.0697

Sarah Patterson 203.417.6254

Lonnie Shapiro 203.731.7722

Marilyn Sloper 203.770.6240

Ira Stone 203.240.5754

Terri Tournas 203.561.5893

Adrian Voss 203.241.7957

Paul Ogden 203.942.9519

Mary Dent

VP of Mortgage Lending

Call Mary to discuss your mortgage options.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval NMLS ID: 260216, LO#: CT CT - LO-260216 Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC is a registered trademark of Guaranteed Rate, Inc., used under license. Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC is a subsidiary of Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #1598647; For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. - Lic # ML-1598647

C: (203) 715-8584

grarate.com/marydent

O: (203) 974-1733

mary.dent@grarate.com

355 Riverside Ave., 2nd Floor, Westport, CT 06880

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM

Joseph Porricelli Branch Vice President 203.515.6310 joe.porricelli@cbrealty.com Ridgefield Office 398 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 | 203.438.9000 Redding Office 16 Old Mill Road, Redding, CT 06896 | 203.544.9591 ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.