final_October 12 issue

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DANBURY CT PERMIT NO. 254

OCTOBER 12, 2023

CTDOT proposed service cuts will mean fewer Danbury Line trains

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REDDING, CONNECTICUT

Volume 2 / Issue 19

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By Rob Sample

By Donna Christopher Four fewer trains will serve Fairfield County in a proposed service reduction the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced this September. A rate hike for rail commuters has also been proposed, with an average increase of 4.5%.

The Shore Line East schedule will have significant reductions in service, while the New Haven Line cuts will be fewer. The Danbury and New Canaan lines will lose two trains apiece.

The changes are attributed to the biennial state budget adopted earlier this year that included a funding increase for the CTtransit bus service in Connecticut and a funding reduction for Metro-North Railroad (MNR) and CTrail Shore Line East (SLE) passenger rail service, to align with current commuting habits more closely, CTDOT said in the announcement.

The proposed bus service changes affect other parts of the state, including route changes to CTtransit Hartford Division and CTtransit New Haven Division, and proposed improvements to service frequencies on two CTfastrak routes.

The proposed plan calls for “significant investments for additional bus service improvements across the state, such as new Sunday service in Meriden.”

Proposed rail service changes include: •

Decreased Monday through Thursday service on the New Haven Line from 239 trains to 237 trains • Decreased Friday service on the New Haven Line from 241 trains to 233 trains • Decreased weekday service on the New Canaan Line from 41 trains to 39 trains • Decreased weekday service on the Danbury Line from 28 trains to 26 trains Proposed rail fare changes include an increase for Metro-North fares in Connecticut, Shore Line East fares, and Hartford Line fares, excluding monthly school passes. Metro-North fares in Connecticut have not increased since January 2018, while Shore Line East fares have not increased since 2016. Hartford Line fares have not been adjusted since the launch of the service.

“Commuting habits continue evolving following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and these

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service and dedication to conservation will also be commemorated by two cedar benches which have been installed along the trail. The benches were designed by the late Hugh Karraker and completed by Patrick Daignault.

The group will meet at The Mahony Gifts trailhead kiosk, which is located at the end of

People often refer to “the year of the flood” as a rare, extraordinary event. But as anyone who lives in New England can tell you, flooding has been anything but rare in 2023.

On July 10-11, five to nine inches of rain fell in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont, causing extensive flooding and road damage.

More recently, on September 25, the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia brought downpours and flooding to Southern Connecticut. Hamden reported the most rainfall, at 8.5 inches, while Redding received about five inches.

Severe rainfall can create issues on local roadways, particularly those that are dirt and gravel. This year’s heavy rains have also caused the Town to rethink its approach to stormwater management – especially for new homes under construction.

Ultimately, the Town hopes to keep excess water from reaching roadways and from getting into nearby ponds and streams.

One unpaved road that occupies a large share of Redding’s attention is Topstone Road, the one-mile-long road that stretches from Umpawaug Road to the Ridgefield town line. The runnerup is George Hull Hill Road, which meanders south from West Redding Road and ends at Picketts Ridge Road.

“Topstone Road is one of our most-traveled gravel roads,” said Jamie Gracy, Redding’s Director of Public Works. “It requires constant maintenance throughout the year. Fortunately, we receive extra maintenance funding from the state for gravel roads.”

Most of the people who live on gravel roads love them, Gracy noted. Their gravel surface usually means less traffic, always favored by homeowners. Other townspeople like them because they help preserve the town’s rural vibe.

Gracy said rainy weather can be difficult to predict, because weather forecasts are subject to significant error. The September 25 forecasts were fairly accurate, however, since this was the tail end of a hurricane. That meant the Public Works and Highway Departments were not caught off guard.

“With five inches of rain, we’ll see more potholes and a softening of the underlying soil as a result of vehicles using the road,” said Gracy. “In addition, we see issues with ponds not being able to hold the massive amount of rainwater,

Continued on page 8

Continued on page 4

Photo by TheReddingDrone

From high above the Zalmon Read Barn and Redding Historical Society, a drone captures a golden autumn sunset. If you have a photo you’d like to see featured here, with credit of course, e-mail editor@ reddingsentinel.org

Harvest Festival– Science and Nature Day New Pond Farm to host fall festivities this weekend

Photo courtesy of New Pond Farm Education Center

New Pond Farm Education Center’s Harvest Festival – Science and Nature Day on Saturday, October 14 (rain date October 15) is a day to celebrate the traditions of the harvest season, to share activities related to the non-profit’s mission, and to rejoice in the beautiful foliage that surrounds the twenty-five acres of the Farm’s rolling pastures. The festivities will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 101 Marchant Road.

Guests are welcome to watch sheep shearing, fleece spinning, and to try their hands at felting.

They can learn how to judge a dairy cow alongside professional farm managers. The Farm’s bee-

keeper will teach you about the wonders of hard-working pollinators, and five young calves will be on hand to greet you.

Artisans will share their traditional crafts like blacksmithing, broom making, and how to use antique make-and-break engines.

There will also be many opportunities to create seasonal takehome crafts, including beeswax candles, decorated pumpkins, bittersweet wreaths with dried flowers, and more.

This year’s Festival coincides with a partial solar eclipse, and an enthusiastic team of volunteer astronomers will share the viewing experience with attendees, provid-

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By Ann Taylor

ing special safety glasses, a solar filter on one of the Farm’s telescopes, a specially designed Sun Spotter, and a live feed from the Lowell Observatory.

In addition to the eclipse, the skies will be filled with fun live music, thanks to Amy Cabot and Joe Pampel.

At 2:00 p.m. Master Falconer Brian Bradley will return to the Farm with his spectacular live hawks, falcons, and owls. Brian will help attendees to understand more about the extraordinary adaptations of these specialized raptors, before flying a few of his favorites over the pastures.

Warmed cider from Blue Jay Orchards, homemade chili, and seasonal desserts will also be on offer.

Admission is $20 per car (and there will be small fees associated with the take-home crafts). This is a fundraiser that helps to support New Pond Farm’s educational programs offered throughout the year.

For more information, visit newpondfarm.org In the event of a rainy forecast, check website after 7:00 a.m. on October 14 for event updates.

Redding’s Big Outdoors Redding Land Trust to honor Buzz Merritt on October 14 Take a hike this weekend at The Mahony Gifts Next week’s Big Outdoors column will feature Cole Tucker-Walton’s beautiful take on The Mahony Gifts property and the hike organized by the Redding Land Trust this Sunday to dedicate the trail in honor of longtime board member Buzz Merritt. If you want a front row seat (or rather, walk!) for the event, plan to

meet the group of hikers and participate on Sunday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Buzz Merritt was a longtime member of the Redding Land Trust Board of Trustees who was instrumental in stewarding Brian Mahony’s gift of 33.1 acres to the Land Trust in several installments.

Merritt’s extensive community

Continued on page 10

Big Outdoors Editorial Legal Notices Sports

Rainfall, flooding, and Redding’s rural roads New methods needed to minimize runoff

Fares also set to hike

Index

$3

Music Note Obituaries Business Spotlight Book Review

5 6&7 8 9

Library Corner Calendar of Events

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By Jessie Wright

2 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023

Editorial

Letters to the Editor

A few weeks ago, I pulled out of my driveway on Cross Highway with my 1-year-old son to go to Storytime at the Mark Twain Library. We have a driveway that isn’t completely blind, but it does require us to edge out slowly to get a good look at oncoming traffic before making the turn.

Usually, this works just fine – but not when an oncoming car comes flying down the road at 50-60 miles-per-hour.

That’s exactly what happened that day, and the woman who had to pull up short behind us that Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. was livid. As I checked my rearview and saw the whites of her eyes as she rode my bumper, I took a deep breath and resolved to drive the speed limit – not out of spite to put the brakes on her day (though the thought crossed my mind), but because my neighborhood and my neighbors deserve better than this.

This is the road we live on – the road my toddler gets unloaded from his carseat on, the road my neighbors sometimes lose their beloved cats on, the road my dog found his way onto one night after our fence gate was inadvertently left open. Yes, it’s a commuter throughway. Yes, it’s a connector from one side of town to the other. Yes, people have bad days and cut it close and are in a rush. I get it – I’m also not going to say I never do it myself. But there have been numerous accidents already this year with speed or lack of attention being a factor on Cross Highway. A young father lost his life on our road this summer. We need to slow down.

Calls for more speeding enforcement happen often in Redding – in today’s issue, the topic is covered again following a discussion at the monthly Brown Bag Lunch with the First Selectwoman. It is true that the Town doesn’t make any money from tickets that are issued, and that whether to issue a ticket or not during a speeding stop is up to the discretion of the police officer. It’s also true that it’s not only out-of-towners who push the limits on safe driving here. More speeding enforcement might mean that you could get a ticket after not getting one for a long, long time.

But there are other benefits than just financial to a stricter policy against speeding. Young drivers may learn earlier, and in a safer way, that there are consequences to speeding. Commuters may eventually adjust their schedules if they know that cutting through Redding at 60 miles-perhour is no longer an option. Neighbors may experience fewer instances of seeing red by being tailgated or cut off coming from their own homes.

We all just might settle into a new normal of expecting a safer, slower pace to our day. g

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please be clear, civil, and concise. E-mail editor@reddingsentinel.org with submissions.

Late night visitor was looking for his dog Police department update

By Donna Christopher A well-dressed man whose image was captured late at night on a home security camera in a private backyard earlier this month was chasing after his loose dog, according to Redding police.

The Redding Police Department posted the security camera image capture on Facebook after it was reported. The Department’s post asked users to help them identify the person from the screenshot image.

Chief Mark O’Donnell said the man seen in the image called the police to identify himself and explain the situation. The dog had

gotten out of his house when the man arrived home from an event, and ran onto Route 53, according to police.

Once the matter was understood, police took down the posts with the security camera image, Chief O’Donnell said. The dog was safely captured, according to an online update from the Police Department. g

Legal Notices

To the Editor, There is a new comet in the sky; Lisa Reese died on Sunday, at home in her glorious tree house-like sanctuary.

Lisa’s impact on the Mark Twain Library is impossible to quantify. She served for decades: as Art Show Chair, President of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the $3.9 Million Capital Campaign that updated and expanded our handsome library in 2000, ringleader of the very first Development Committee, and crafter of our jewel-in-thecrown Hermes Art Series. Lisa continued to consistently support and advise and attend and applaud the library well beyond her official roles, all while bravely enduring a series of health hurdles. She initiated the very popular Great Decisions discussion series and was a regular participant well into her 90s. She enthusiastically attended the Book Fair just four weeks ago.

In addition to her monumental contributions to the library, Lisa was an indispensable volunteer for the Westport Arts Center, the Westport Historical Society, the Redding League of Women Voters, and the Housatonic Mental Health Council.

All the above while excelling as a successful businesswoman. Lisa founded Reese Associates Real Estate, which she sold to Coldwell Banker, staying on as their COO for Fairfield County and creating, from scratch, 13 offices. She retired from real estate in 2018 at the age of 90.

In 1998 and brand new to Redding, yours truly was asked by a rather intimidating Lisa Reese to join the library’s Capital Campaign Committee. I suddenly found myself on the front lines, with a tireless, fearless advocate for Mark Twain’s legacy. Twenty years later, I’m still volunteering for our library because Lisa Reese showed me - and countless others - what hard work, a rewarding goal, and heartfelt dedication can do.

Haley’s ushered Mr. Sam Clemens in and out of this world. I bet there’s another equally bright comet up there now, ever-zooming, ever-inspiring, to keep our library bright.

Jen Wastrom Trustee, Mark Twain Library

Robinson resigns, vacancy created on Conservation Commission l

By Jessie Wright

At the October 3 meeting of the Conservation Commission, Chairman David Pattee announced that member Susan Robinson has resigned from the group.

Robinson, a Democrat, was in the middle of her second term (her first term was a partial term), serving on the Commission for close to four years.

“She wants to spend more time working with associates and organizations which she’s worked with for a long time,” said Pattee.

Members of the Conservation Commission, of which there are seven, are appointed by the First Selectman. According to Town Clerk Michele Grande, there are currently five Democrats and

one Republican now serving on the Commission, a result of two members some years ago changing their party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. To restore minority representation, the person filling the vacancy created by Robinson’s departure must either be a registered Republican, other minor party, or unaffiliated, said Grande.

Terms on the Commission last for four years. The term for which the appointment will be made ends on October 31, 2026.

The Town established the Conservation Commission in 1964 for the development and conservation of natural resources within its territorial limits. The

group maintains an index of both public and private open space land areas and has established trails for hiking, riding, and crosscountry skiing. The Commission prepares the Open Space Plan as a supplement to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development, and also authorizes the Town’s Deer Management Program, an annual controlled bow hunt.

Since 1973, the Conservation Commission has also been authorized to act as the Town’s Inland Wetland Commission, promulgating regulations to protect Inland Wetlands and Watercourses. g

Correction to the October 5, 2023 issue: The “Good books for good readers” column on page 9 included the incorrect byline. The author of the column was Margi Esten. We regret this error.

CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION DATE

The Redding Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public hearing via Zoom on Tuesday October 17, 2023 at 7:00pm to review and possible vote on the following application 1. Application #10-01-23- 10 Mark Twain Lane (Map & Lot #28 & 87) Owner Kenneth Baron: Requesting a variance to reduce Rear Yard Setback from 50’ to 20’ feet for a Generator. Redding Zoning Regulations Section 4.6. Variance requested is 30’ feet. g Elizabeth Williams, Chairman, Redding Zoning Board of Appeals

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October 12, 2023 l Redding Sentinel l 3

Redding Historical Society hosts annual meeting

New guild launched, 2024 officers elected

Photo by Jessie Wright

RHS board member Bert Webbe holds up a dateboard, announcing the creation of the 1714 Guild.

The drafty but cozy interior of the Zalmon Read Barn was a fitting setting for the Redding Historical Society’s (RHS) annual meeting on Sunday, October 8, where leaders of the group shared updates on programming, plans for the year ahead, and elected a new slate of officers for 2024.

The group’s ongoing efforts to save the historic Zalmon Read Barn, an iconic structure on Lonetown Road which provides the backdrop for much of RHS’s programming throughout the year, was a primary topic of both progress reporting and planning at the meeting. The RHS successfully received a $40,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant allocation in 2023 after making the case for the importance of renovating and stewarding the 18th century structure through necessary repairs.

“We realize that barns are really an important and essential part of our heritage, because we essentially come from an agriculturally-based region, where barns were a central feature of life and livelihood of people from preRevolutionary times,” said RHS board member Dan Souza. “We are very fortunate in Redding to have probably the most historically

significant structure of its type.” While the ARPA grant will kickstart the project, Souza noted there is still approximately $60,000 more needed to complete the repairs. The RHS plans to launch a fundraising campaign in the coming days to close that gap.

The relaunch of the RHS dateboard program was also a highlight in 2023. Owners of historically significant antique homes or structures in Redding can work with the RHS to conduct research on their homes and install a dateboard, displaying the original builder or occupant’s name and year of construction.

At the October 8 meeting, RHS announced the creation of the 1714 Guild, an initiative born out of the dateboard program to create a group representing owners of homes and structures built before 1900. “This group has a stake in the history of Redding. They are historians, themselves, in that they have invested in these structures and willfully acknowledge the import of these structures and the founding families of our community,” explained RHS board member Bert Webbe.

Membership in the 1714 Guild is achieved by participating in the dateboard program and includes

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By Jessie Wright

membership in the RHS. The organization envisions the group becoming a resource and source of programming for those with an interest in antique structures. “As the 1714 Guild gains membership and momentum, lectures, workshops, and house tours will be available to its members, and RHS members and the community,” continued Webbe.

The annual meeting also saw a new slate of officers approved for 2024. Bob Moran, current RHS President, announced he will be stepping down from his role in the new year, but will continue as a board member. The 2024 officers, who were all elected unanimous -ly, include: Janice Dimon (Pres -ident), Bert Webbe (Vice President), Pamela Reese (Secretary), and Denise Jankovic (Treasurer).

Incoming President Janice Dimon gave a brief preview of what will be a primary focus of the incoming board next year.

“I’m really excited for this board,” said Dimon. “We’re going to continue in 2024 to realize our mission of preservation and education of the history and the landmarks in our town. Our mission will also continue by extending and upgrading our communication and engagement protocols. Communication is really important – we realize it, we’ve heard you, and we’re going to be upgrading quite a bit.”

The RHS has established a Communications Director to lead the way on this effort. “We are making sure that we have well thought out and innovative upgrades to our communications when we have events, when we have programs, when we have open houses,” said Dimon. “We want the same message to go to you so that you understand what we’re all about and how we value your contribution to the Historical Society.” g

Road safety causes ongoing concern l

By Rocco Valluzzo

A speed sign installed on Umpawaug Road, one of the throughways in town that sees consistent speeding.

By Rocco Valluzzo

first. According to Pemberton, the hazardous material under North Main Street is not the most serious and can be removed and hauled away.

A new North Main Street design would cost about $250,000 for preliminary designs. Pemberton has applied for a state grant through a tribal and rural assistance pilot program but is still waiting for a response.

“We would design what’s called a ‘complete street’,” she said. “We would have sidewalks; we would have a bike lane, and there would be more nose-in parking for businesses in Georgetown that have severe shortages in parking.”

She estimated it would cost about $3.5 million to build the road itself, because it’s a brand new road that involves excavation as well as remediation.

Photo courtesy of Redding Grange #15

Redding Grange #15 concluded its weekly produce drive on Thursday, October 5 with its final donation collection of the season. The drive provided fresh produce to food insecure households in both Redding and Danbury through the Grange’s partnership with Food Rescue US. Local gardeners and farms donated 790 pounds of produce, the equivalent of approximately 650 meals. The Grange said, “Thanks to the Food Rescue US volunteers, ARC Comida Food Pantry staff, Redding Social Services, Redding Community Garden growers, Warrups Farm, Mason’s Farmstand, and the countless backyard growers and neighborhood volunteers who helped make it all possible!”

Photo by Jessie Wright

Town eyes creation of new North Main Street l To ease the amount of traffic on Portland Avenue in Georgetown as well as create access for what could be used as an area for recreation, Redding First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton hopes for the Town to eventually create a new section of North Main Street.

During the 2000s, when the Georgetown Land Development Company purchased the former Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill property, part of North Main Street was acquired and closed to traffic.

The Town now owns the property, including an area where the new part of North Main Street would run.

“That’s a long-term goal of mine,” said Pemberton. “The first thing to do would be the design and engineering.”

In order to build the road, hazardous material must be excavated

Gardeners donate nearly 800 pounds of produce in Grange food drive

The West Pond area could be reserved for a park, similar to the one in Westport along the Saugatuck River near a historic bridge. On the back end of the property off Portland Avenue is an area that once had warehouses and is relatively clean, which could be a recreation area.

“It’s a great place for a pop-up skate park, which has been something parents have wanted,” said Pemberton. “You have access to the pond; you could put in picnic tables; you could even have pickup basketball.”

The area could also serve as a much larger venue for the Georgetown Farmers’ Market. By next spring, Pemberton would like to have a plan to use that space for some pop-up recreational activities. g

Addressing safety issues on state as well as local roads in Redding, First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton discussed possible ways to deal with the problem at her monthly Brown Bag Lunch meeting with the public on Wednesday, October 4.

To help cut down speeding on Umpawaug Road in particular, Pemberton noted the Town has posted several signs there regarding this, including one that displays driver speeds. An additional sign may be needed there as well.

“Of all of the roads where we did speed studies, Umpawaug was the only road where we found consistently high speed driving,” said Pemberton. “We had drivers clocked at 75 miles-per-hour on Umpawaug.”

The First Selectwoman has also received a number of complaints about speeding on Poverty Hollow Road, which is a main commuting road in town and also a scenic road. Widening the road is not an option but residents have requested the installation of speed humps.

At one time, a temporary speed hump was installed on Poverty `

Hollow Road but was later removed. Because of their placement on only certain sections of roads, speed humps typically do not solve speeding issues. Speed humps will slow a car at a very specific point along the road, but they don’t affect speeding across the road entirely.

“The only thing that affects speeding across the road is enforcement, really,” Pemberton said. “We do see requests for increased enforcement. We do traffic enforcement on a regular basis; I would say daily.”

She added that she cannot order the police to give out tickets.

There are no ticket quotas, and the Town does not receive any money when they are issued.

“There’s an idea that the Town would get money if we gave out more tickets,” she said. “We don’t.

All the money from tickets goes to the state.”

Redding Police Chief Mark O’Donnell noted that the decision whether to issue a ticket or a warning is up to the discretion of the officer involved. He also noted that ticket quotas for police departments are illegal. g

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4 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023

Sports Falcons qualify for state tournament Boys soccer

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By Rocco Valluzzo

Photo by Rocco Valluzzo

Joel Barlow High’s Tom Colby gets caught up between New Milford’s Josue Zhunio, left, and Braden Arias, right, during a boys varsity soccer game on Thursday, October 5. Barlow won 1-0.

It may not have gotten many breaks, but the Joel Barlow High boys varsity soccer team took advantage of one in particular in its game against New Milford last week.

The Falcons were held to just one goal when they visited their opponent on Thursday, October 5.

With their defense holding up, it was all they needed in a 1-0 shutout.

The victory was Barlow’s sixth in its last seven games and qualified the team for the state Class M tournament.

“We’re definitely kind of on a roll,” said Head Coach Paul Winstanley, whose team has now won four in a row. “We said we wanted

to go on a long winning streak.”

Barlow’s best opportunity came relatively early in the action. With 26:18 left in the first half, Jordan Horowitz went deep on an angle in New Milford territory before getting near the top of the box for a shot into the upper part of the net, which turned out to be all the Falcons needed.

“It was the best shot he had ever taken in his life,” said Winstanley.

“It was brilliant. It was entirely well constructed.”

The Green Wave nearly responded. With 13:18 left, it was thwarted when Falcon goalie Addison Vanderburg deflected a shot over the crossbar to preserve the lead.

“This was a 50/50 game and the only difference is we hit a bomb shot,” said Winstanley. “That’s what it really came down to.”

Barlow nearly added to its lead early in the second half, only to have a shot by Grayson Vanderburg, bounce off the crossbar. The match then turned intense, with each team getting several yellow cards for rough play.

“This is what happens, and it happened to them too, when you’re playing hard but out of control,” said Winstanley. “I don’t think that there was anything specific that they were super physical or we were super physical.”

Although Barlow protected its lead, the Green Wave refused to fold, coming close on shots in the last 20 minutes by Tristan Blore and Marcos Peirera that missed the mark.

After an 0-2 start to the season, the Falcons now appear to be on the right track. While Winstanley feels his team is not yet at the level it should be, he is pleased with the progress the players have made over the last several games.

“We’re not really playing well, but we’re playing hard,” he noted.

“So far that hard, physical running type of style kept us in every game, and we’ve been able to steal all the points. We can be a real danger if we can just get everybody on the same page and a little more composed.”

Barlow, now 6-3, is at Bethel on Thursday, October 12 at 4:00 p.m., hosts Naugatuck on Saturday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m. and visits Bunnell on Tuesday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. g

The Great Turkey Escape race registration now open l

By Jessie Wright

Photo by Jessie Wright

A runner finishes the course at The Great Turkey Escape last year.

Halloween season is fleeting, and before you know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us. The Great Turkey Escape will take place the morning of Thursday, November 23, when runners from all over the local area will flock to Red-

ding to enjoy the brisk autumn air and work up an appetite for their Thanksgiving meals.

The Great Turkey Escape includes a three-quarter-mile Fun Run at 8:00 a.m., followed by a 5K race kicking off at 8:30 a.m. Run-

ners can also choose to sign up for a virtual 1K or 5K and participate on their own time. The route starts and ends at the Redding Community Center at 37 Lonetown Road, looping south to Hill Road, north up Great Oak Lane and Old Stagecoach Road, and turning east on Gallows Hill Road before meeting again with Lonetown Road.

Each year, race proceeds are distributed to non-profits or community organizations in and around Redding. This year’s race will benefit the Redding Elementary School PTA and the Joel Barlow High School Robotics Club.

Registration is now open and will not be available the day of the race. Runners can sign up at runsignup.com/Race/CT/Redding/ TheGreatTurkeyEscape to ensure their spot at the starting line. g

Falcons sweep Wildcats Girls volleyball

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By Rocco Valluzzo

Photo by Rocco Valluzzo

Joel Barlow High’s Lily Condosta passes the ball during a Joel Barlow High girls varsity volleyball match against Bethel on Wednesday, October 4. Barlow won 3-0.

A few hiccups with respect to its serve did not detract the Joel Barlow High girls varsity volleyball team in its match at Bethel last week.

The Falcons faulted on their serve on six different occasions.

When they were on track, however, the competition found Barlow’s game hard to handle, as the visitors went on to a 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-9) sweep on Wednesday, October 4.

The win was the sixth straight for Barlow and its sixth sweep so far.

“I was really trying to get them to serve into certain areas tonight,” said Falcon Head Coach Carol Asplund. “They focused on tougher serves, and so when you do that, you end up missing more serves than you normally would.”

Taking control of the first set early on, the Falcons raced out to a 12-0 lead, helped in part by 11 service points by Lily Condosta.

Hits by Mia Roberts, Mackenzie Sickinger, and Amanda Meschi also kept Bethel in check.

Although the Wildcats briefly won back the serve, the Falcons soon widened the gap to 18-2, coming on another kill by Roberts.

Sofia Benitez and Ella Anderson also helped out at the net to close out the set.

With a key starter out, Asplund switched up the lineup a bit. Some who were normally accustomed to playing on the outside of the court had moved to the middle.

Things were a little closer at the start of the second set. Three straight service points by Roberts put Barlow in the lead, but Bethel tied it with back-to-back serves by Alex Bender.

Bethel at times struggled with the hitting and passing aspects of its game. Barlow, on the other hand, had the advantage here in turning an early threat into a 15-7 lead.

While kills by Bethel’s Brooke McEvoy helped keep her team within six points of the visitors, Barlow responded with a strong performance by Val Alesi, who reeled off six straight serves to get her team to set point. The Wildcats won back the serve but scratched on their final attempt, putting Barlow up 2-0 in the match.

Bethel’s only lead in the match came early in the fourth set, as it took advantage of a couple of Barlow miscues to go up 4-3. The former then faulted on its next serve. Four straight service points

by Olivia Sickinger, coupled with kills by Madi Furrer and Anderson, put their team back in the lead for good.

With the lead later growing to 20-9, Barlow closed out the match with five straight service points courtesy of Sydney Hawks.

“We’re really young and we’ve been working on a lot,” said Asplund. “This is the first game where I feel like it was a group effort. Everybody played.”

Barlow, now 7-1 overall, hosts New Milford on Thursday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m., visits RHAM of Hebron on Saturday, October 14 at 6:00 p.m., is at Masuk on Monday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m., and goes to Newtown on Tuesday, October 17 at 5:30 p.m. g

CIAC recognizes Immaculate High School for sportsmanship

Rainfall, flooding, and Redding’s rural roads New methods needed to minimize runoff / continued from page 1 overflowing their banks and flowing over the roadways.

“George Hull Hill Road is not as heavily traveled as Topstone Road, but like Topstone, it is often used as a ‘cut-through,’ so we were keeping an eye on it,” Gracy said.

“However, there are several houses on George Hull that are ‘down in the hole’ [situated on slopes below the roadway level].”

This means that in heavy rain, crews must keep a constant watch on roadway edges near these homes, to ensure water doesn’t flood yards and homes. The same is true for homes with similar lot configurations that are on paved roads.

“Heavy rain also creates lots of issues with trees,” said Gracy. “If a tree is dying, it will begin to drop limbs in a rainstorm or completely fall over, blocking a roadway.

Weather that has a combination of heavy rain and winds is the worst.

Homeowners often think such a tree can be saved – until it falls and blocks their driveway.”

The summer of 2022, by contrast, saw moderate drought conditions in much of Fairfield and New Haven counties, which brings its own challenges. “The dryness of the roads created a lot

of dust when cars drove on them,” said Gracy.

Aimee Pardee, Redding’s Land Use Director, said the Town is now taking measures to prevent runoff.

“As a result of climate change, the storms we are getting are increasing in intensity, frequency, and duration,” Pardee said. “As a result, we are rethinking what we do as a Town to manage stormwater.”

Pardee pointed out that in a home constructed 30 years ago, common practice was to just have gutters and leaders that dumped rainwater onto the ground. “We’re finding that doesn’t cut it anymore,” she said. “Given today’s heavy storms, your rainwater could affect your neighbor’s property and even result in erosion. We must think of new ways to get that water back into the ground.”

These new approaches to stormwater management only concern new construction and homes undergoing significant remodeling and additions. One simple solution is for roof leaders to direct water into a dry well, an underground area filled with gravel.

A more advanced system is an infiltrator, which is much like

a septic tank in that includes an underground chamber for wastewater combined with a series of environmentally friendly pipes.

The latter “meter out” stormwater into the surrounding ground.

Rain gardens mitigate runoff while adding beauty to a property.

The homeowner can create a depressed area in a yard to collect runoff from a roof or paved area, and then plant it with decorative grasses and perennial flowers.

“The idea is to slow down the runoff,” Pardee said.

The Town also urges builders to take preventive measures during construction, as bare lots are prime candidates for runoff. “We live in a watershed community,” Pardee said. “The last thing we need is for mud and muck to get into our waterways and reservoirs. And it behooves the homeowner not to lose any topsoil. It’s expensive!”

Citizens are encouraged to learn more about stormwater management and to adopt measures to minimize its effects. A good place to start is the Norwalk River Watershed Association’s website at norwalkriver.org. The University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research also offers a wealth of information; start at nemo.uconn.edu/stormwaterbasics and navigate from there. g

Photo courtesy of Immaculate High School

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) awarded Immaculate High School a “Sportsmanship Superhero” honor at its High School Sportsmanship Conference on October 3. The school was the recipient of a Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award for founding a “Class Act Council” which will adhere to and promote principles of good sportsmanship. Athletic Director Nelson Mingachos accepted the award on behalf of the school. From left to right: Immaculate High School Athletic Director Nelson Mingachos and students Ryan Hatcher ‘25 of Sherman, Abiel Morales ‘25 of New Milford, Kristina Asmani ‘25 of Norwalk, Eva Balzano ‘24 of Bedford, Caitlyn Mascetta ‘24 of Danbury, Deirdre Dwyer ‘25 of Bridgewater and Isabella DiNatale ‘25 of Sherman

October 12, 2023 l Redding Sentinel l 5

From pastries to poultry, enjoy the best of small-town agriculture

Park and Rec programming director retires after over two decades l

By Pamela Brown

The Grange sets Second Annual Agricultural Fair for October 22

By Rob Sample

One-time Redding resident Mark Twain once quipped that “reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same could indeed be said of the reborn Redding Grange, whose second annual Agricultural Fair promises to cement its comeback in the local community.

The Fair is set for Sunday, October 22 at the Grange Hall, 399 Newtown Turnpike. Headlining the event will be competitions in 13 categories of traditional – and non-traditional – skills and crafts. It will also feature towncentric vendors, antiques, vintage farm-inspired items for sale, plenty of food, several animalkingdom guests, and a skillet-toss competition.

What’s a skillet toss, you might ask? Well, plan to attend the Fair to find out. Better yet, you can sign up to participate, because for all this year’s competitive events, no advance registration is required.

Competition categories are free to enter, and the Fair is free to attend.

However, there is a $2 suggested donation to help cover costs.

“We have nearly doubled the number of judging categories to 13 this time, to encourage even more town participation,” noted Elizabeth Jensen, President of the Redding Grange. “We hope that everyone in town will look over the categories and consider entering something. And if you don’t want to enter an item, it’s always fun to see what your neighbors have entered.”

There will be activities for kids as well. “And because of the closeness of the date to Halloween, we’re encouraging anyone who wants to wear a costume to do so,” said Jensen.

To enter a competition, just arrive at the Grange Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the day of the Fair and fill out an entry slip. You can opt to pre-register nonperishable items for judging.

Pre-registration will take place on Friday, October 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, October 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The following are the 13 categories of competition:

• Vegan/Gluten-Free Homemade Baked Goods • Most Impressive Produce • Seasonal Flower Arrangement • Jam On (best jam) • Best Locally Produced Maple Syrup • Needlework (needlepoint embroidery, cross-stitch, felting) • Photography (Redding or adjcent town subject matter) • In a Pickle (best pickled food item) • Pretty Pumpkins, Gorgeous Gourds & Sexy Squashes The Grange also seeks sponsors for the fair. “The Agricultural Fair is our biggest fundraiser so far, and its success is vitally important to keeping our Grange thriving,” said Jensen. “There is still time to sign up for sponsorships, which start at $50. Donations at the fair are also welcome.”

Jensen pointed out that the number 13 has another significant meaning. In 2020, facing dwindling membership, members of the original Redding Grange voted to disband and put the Grange Hall up for sale. In response, Jensen and 12 others from the community stepped up to reorganize the chapter, stop the sale of the building and, ultimately, preserve it as a Grange Hall.

“Since we reorganized our historic chapter in 2021, our membership has been working hard to thoughtfully revive century old traditions, while expanding our programming to meet modern needs,” said Jensen. “Bringing back Redding Grange’s mini-ag fair is a perfect example of ‘oldtime’ ways elevating the modern community experience.

We encourage everyone in Redding who loves history, community, and farm ways to consider supporting Redding Grange so that it will go on for generations to come.”

Visit reddinggrange.org or e-mail community@ reddinggrange.org for more information

A 2001 article in The Redding Pilot when Laura Anderson first started her job at Park and Recreation.

Laura Anderson recently opened a desk drawer and pulled out a 2001 copy of The Redding Pilot.

In it was a story announcing her new appointment as Director of Recreational Programming for the Redding Park and Recreation Department. It was a bittersweet moment, as this November Anderson will retire after serving twenty-two years.

“Reading the article, it talks about how excited I was to program all the new space at the Community Center when we moved in. I did that, mission accomplished. I never imagined working here five years, let alone twenty-two,” said Anderson, admitting, “Park and Recreation still needs more space!”

Since taking on the position, Anderson has been an asset to the Department, serving as Director of the Youth Basketball League, Park and Rec’s largest program. “I’m extremely proud of it. I’ve had the pleasure of employing some of the most amazing basketballminded people throughout the years, including Dan Trombetto who helped me put the program on the map, and Jeff Earle keeps it growing,” said Anderson. Under Anderson, the league expanded to also include a high school division.

According to Rob Blick, Redding Park and Recreation Director, Anderson was a valuable employee for her over two decades of service. “Laura is very knowledgeable, thorough, and dedicated to running quality programs for the residents of Redding.

She’s a great listener and cares about the people who work for and with her. We were lucky to have her,” said Blick, adding, “Laura

always had great relationships with our part-time and seasonal staff. From summer camps, to vendors, to fitness and youth after school classes, she understands what needs to be done. She’s done a great job running our basketball leagues – from recruiting and managing our volunteer coaches to training our high school referee staff.”

As Anderson steps away, she looks back fondly on the dayto-day office camaraderie. “You grow up together, and it’s hard to leave that behind. Working with friends is what kept me here – Mary Jo, Tracie, Rob, Michelle, Debbie, Sarah, and Steve,” she said, recalling some of her favorite moments were times spent at Summer Day Camp. “The familiar antics of Linda Annechiarico, Ryan Swift, Alex Wolochuk, and others would leave your face hurting from laughing and smiling all day. My favorite camp is Chef Camp with Mary Jo. It’s the gem of summertime at Park and Recreation.”

Anderson also appreciated sharing the job with her family. Her daughter worked as a camp counselor during college and her son attended many camps. “My husband Brian and I would attend bus trips to Broadway and sporting events. The few Sundays when I was ‘in charge’ of Redding’s Concerts on the Green, I had a contingent of friends and family with me from my hometown of New Fairfield,” she said. She also participated in Park and Rec’s programs herself. “I took fitness and self-defense classes and had so much fun. I wonder if there’s a saying, ‘Once a Park and Recer,

You’re never too young to play Vintage Local band adds fresh face

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By Pamela Brown

A toast to a half-century of yoga Photo courtesy of Vintage

Friends, neighbors, and yoga students gathered on Thursday, October 5 to honor Pat Reichert (pictured above, center in black vest), who has been teaching yoga for the Park and Recreation Department for 55 years. After the celebration, Reichert taught her usual 7:00 p.m. yoga class.

always a Park and Recer’ because I’ve already visited two Park and Recreation Departments near my new home in North Carolina and will definitely be registering for classes.”

After twenty-two years, Anderson is ready for retirement. “I’ve given everything I have to the Town of Redding and its residents,” she said, looking forward to more personal accomplishments. “I hope to continue coaching soccer and playing soccer once we’re settled.

We have a big, beautiful camper that we plan to explore the country with,” she said. Anderson also wants to hone her golfing skills, learn how to surf, read two books a month, and host many guests.

“Maybe, I’ll get a puppy,” she added.

There are other changes in Anderson’s life. Her son, Devin, is graduating from West Virginia University and will be pursuing a career as a sports media broadcaster, and her daughter, Breanna, who lives in Idaho, just got engaged. “We’re excited for what I’m sure will be the most epic outdoor adventure wedding ever,” she said.

Anderson will take the best part of her job with her – the friends she’s made through the years, including co-workers, residents, and her instructors. “We have stories to tell. I can’t wait to relive those moments with them all when I’m retired and they visit me on the beach,” she said.

As for advice to her successor, Anderson said, “Be a duck and let it roll off you. The backbone is there for you, add your flair to it. Be strong, be bold, be creative, and love your coworkers.” g

Music Note

• Home(made) on the Grange Cookies • Most Magnificent Egg • Most Wonderful FeatheredFowl Friend • Best Fruit Pie

Photo by Laura Anderson

Laura Anderson today

If you enjoy the sounds of ‘80s and ‘90s rock and roll with a little bit of other decades added in, you’ll appreciate the vibe of Vintage. “We play fun, danceable, rock and roll music,” said David Monson, who plays drums for the Redding-based band.

In addition to Monson, band members, all Redding residents, include Todd Bennett (vocals/ guitar), Matt Champagne (guitar), and Chris Howard (bass). The group recently added Julian Davies (guitar), a sophomore at Joel Barlow High School, as a member.

“Julian is a strong guitar player, and it’s been a really wonderful

experience for the band and him as a musician,” said Monson. “He was friendly with Todd’s son and wanted to jam with us. When he played with us, he was amazing, and we gave him a shot and he has played with us ever since.”

You can hear the band play at two upcoming local events. On Friday, October 13, they’ll be at the Sugar Hollow Tap Room on Route 7 in Danbury at 9:00 p.m., and on Saturday, October 14, they’ll be performing three sets at the Danbury Hat Tricks hockey game starting at 6:00 p.m.

“We just love to play music. It’s a great outlet for all of us,” said

Monson. “Everyone has their other jobs, and to practice once a week and play live is fun.”

Meeting through their children’s school and sporting events, the band members found a common interest in rock and roll music and formed the band in 2017 in a basement with a drum kit and some guitars. “What’s cool is we started from scratch, with not a song. We had to learn about 30 songs for our first performance,” said Monson.

Now the band has 125 songs in their set list and to date have played over 50 gigs throughout Fairfield County, including local clubs, private parties, and restaurants, including Milestone Restaurant in Georgetown.

For Monson, performing is all about how it makes the audience feel. “We choose really good songs people want to hear and want to dance and sing along to.

That’s what’s really fun for us – connecting with the audience. And that makes it fun,” he said. “When they hear us play, I want people to say, ‘I haven’t heard that song in forever and I love that song.’ I want the audience to see us having fun and that translates to the audience having fun, also.” g Learn more about them at vintagecoverband.com

6 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023

Obituary Lisa Reese

January 11, 1928 – October 1, 2023

Lisa Reese

Lisa Reese, nee Liesl Pechtl, 95, of Redding was born in Prachatitz, Czechoslovak Republic, beloved youngest daughter of Karl Pechtl, the Buergermeister of Prachatitz, and Hedwig Lichtnecker Pechtl. Upon her mother’s death when Lisa was only seven, she was sent to live with relatives until old enough to attend a private Jesuit high school where she learned

to speak English. In 1944, she began college at Charles University in Prague, the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic; unfortunately, the school closed shortly thereafter due to the war.

Lisa was then inducted into the Anti-Aircraft unit of the German Air force, trained in communication and observatory work. She unsuccessfully escaped twice, found and returned each time. On her third escape attempt, the war was ending, and she managed to be returned to her family. Homecoming was short lived. In the fall of 1945 post-Potsdam Agreement when the Russians took occupation of Czechoslovakia, Lisa’s father arranged for her and a friend to escape to Passau, Germany. The two young women found it overcrowded with refugees, so they bravely continued on to safety in Linz, Austria.

In a Displaced Persons Camp in Linz, Lisa worked for the American Army as a long-distance switchboard operator. She was then offered a position to work for Military Intelligence Service as an Interpreter. It was there she met Donald Reese, an American soldier in her MIS unit. They married in October 1949 in Linz, and came to the United States, settling at Fort Totten, near New York City.

They had two sons, Michael and Jeffrey. After a brief stint back in Germany when Donald was reassigned to NATO headquarters, Lisa divorced and moved with her two sons to Westport in 1961.

A single mother without friends or relatives, Lisa found work in a local real estate office. Realizing her knack for it, seven years later she opened her own firm, Reese Associates Real Estate, in 1968.

In 1985, she sold her business to

Coldwell Banker, staying on as their COO for Fairfield County and creating, from scratch, 13 offices. She retired from real estate in 2018 at the age of 90. Lisa’s two sons followed in her entrepreneurial footsteps; Lisa and Jeffrey launched the popular Westport eatery Dameon Restaurant in 1974, and Reese Builders Inc. was started with Michael in 1977. Lisa moved to Redding in 1986.

In addition to her successful business pursuits, Lisa volunteered her limited spare time to numerous community organizations - most significantly, the Mark Twain Library where her impact is impossible to quantify. She served for decades: as President of the Board of Trustees, Art Show Chair, Chair of the $3.9 Million Capital Campaign that updated and expanded the library in 2000, ringleader of the very first Development Commit-

tee, and crafter of the Hermes Art Series. In addition to the library, Lisa was an indispensable volunteer for the Westport Arts Center, the Westport Historical Society, the Redding League of Women Voters, and the Housatonic Mental Health Council.

Besides her parents, Lisa was predeceased by her sister Hedwig, brothers Waldefried and Helmut, and her son Jeffrey Reese. She is survived by her son Michael; his wife Pamela; grandchildren Whitney Giannelli (John), Logan Reese, and Spencer Reese; great grandchildren Hunter and Marley Giannelli; and her devoted friends Deirdre O’Donohue, June Myles, and Susan Clark. Lisa’s family is forever grateful to Eva Ferguson, Lisa’s loyal friend and caregiver.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lisa’s honor may be made to the Mark Twain Library. g

Remembering Redding The Georgetown Story – its past, present, and future Part four: 1915 to 1950

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By Brent Colley

The Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill, overlooking Portland Avenue.

This is a multi-part series on the history of Georgetown. To read earlier installments, visit reddingsentinel.org/archive and open the March 2, April 6, and June 1, 2023 issues.

With Major David H. Miller’s passing in 1915, his son Samuel J. Miller became the next President at Gilbert & Bennett. Samuel had joined the firm in 1869 as an office boy and climbed the corporate ladder as superintendent, secretary, general manager, director, and vice-president. The Gilbert & Bennett officers serving under Samuel when he took over as President were Charles J. Miller (Vice President), William H. Hunter (Treasurer), D. Henry Miller (Secretary), and Louis P. Miller (Superintendent). The Miller family ultimately built the Georgetown you know today, as we will highlight below.

The Millers arrived in Georgetown in the late 1850s. David H. Miller was the first and had an immediate impact both on the company and the community.

Via Raymond Miller’s archives, we have plenty of mortgage and investment notes that show David H. and members of his family were actively involved in the underwriting of local businesses, homesteads, and land. During David H.’s presidency, the factories between Portland Hill and North Main Street expanded and community involvement increased. Miller’s Hall is a prime example; Miller’s Hall was located between the lower factories and upper factories and served as what we’d consider a “community center” in the present day. This is a neat connection to the present day, because under the Miller family’s leadership, the company erected the Gilbert & Bennett School on New Street, the building we now refer to as the G&B Cultural Center. Built between 1914-15 through the generosity of the factory managers and their employees (all Gilbert & Bennett employees agreed to postpone

wage increases and bonuses to help finance construction of the school), it contained eight separate classrooms, an auditorium, kitchen, and cafeteria, a principal’s office and rooms equipped for manual training and domestic science. Built on one level for safety reasons, each room had its own exit door. There were neat inside bathrooms (most students still had “outdoor” bathrooms at home) and a spacious playground.

The school’s modern layout and amenities became the prototype for every school building committee in the region that followed it; in fact, the building committee of Sharon, Connecticut’s 1923 elementary school project replicated it almost exactly. Once completed, the Gilbert & Bennett School was deeded jointly to the Towns of Redding and Wilton, but with children coming from three towns (Weston too), administration posed a problem. In 1919, the Connecticut General Assembly approved School District #10 to embrace all three parts of Georgetown. The Gilbert & Bennett School was added to Wilton due to the school’s location. At that time, there were nine school districts in Wilton.

Adding the Gilbert & Bennett School created the tenth district.

The development of New Street accompanied the school – only two houses clearly pre-date the school building in this area. These two are Folk Style houses located on New Street extension and were built in 1913.

All this took place during World War I, when a good number of Gilbert & Bennett employees were overseas. Despite the stress of global conflict, the company found a way to manufacture 5,000 pounds of wire cloth a day for trench lining, as well as poultry netting for camouflage and screen cloth for gas masks in addition to all their other products. This serves as dual proof that wire cloth was versatile, and the Gilbert & Bennett family network was resilient – spouses filled in for spouses at work and a factory town found a

The corner of Old Mill Road and Georgetown Road.

way to support the war effort and survive a difficult period. This resiliency was further tested when the Spanish flu pandemic hit just as World War I was ending. It was a nasty double hit, but the town remained strong.

Reading through the 1920s to 1950s Miller documents and letters, Georgetown was a thriving company town with local support businesses attached to it, a direct railroad connection to New York City, and attractive town amenities.

Gilbert & Bennett offered their employees group life insurance plans and mortgages and for those without the resources to purchase homes or property. The company had very affordable rental units on Portland Avenue in the Redding section of Georgetown overlooking the millpond and factory. They also played an active role in the formation of the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company which was organized in May of 1928.

The first fire house was a converted horse barn that was given to the volunteers by Gilbert & Bennett.

The initial firefighting equipment consisted of a Chevrolet Chemical Truck and a Peter Pirsh Pumper.

Within “the Depression” years of the late 1920s and early ‘30s, the company decided that the modernization of buildings and equipment was the best path forward to beat out existing competitors and develop new products. D. Henry Miller was the author and innovator of these modernization efforts, serving as President of the company from 1936 to 1954. During his presidency, the company introduced new processes and products; galvanized light grade welded wire mesh was the most popular. The fabric welder for producing this light grade welded mesh was purchased just prior to 1940 and became the real game changer for the company. This machine ran at double the speed of any welder then in existence.

Products created on this welder had great success, particularly “Perma Gard”, the cage material

for fur ranchers, poultry producers, crab pots, machinery guards, wire partitions, and fencing.

In 1941, the company developed another first – special plastic-coated wire cloth to reinforce the brake linings in cars.

This unique design allowed lining manufacturers to run their lining machines at higher speeds, and it greatly reduced their scrap loss. As a result, Gilbert & Bennett earned a major share of the brake lining market. The company also supplied men and materials to World War II. Very shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, production was on a 100% “war priority” basis for the company. Camouflage netting was a very popular innovation Gilbert & Bennett came up with.

At one time, about 125 women were creating it by garnishing olive drab cloth to “straight-line” chicken wire. Besides camouflage netting, Gilbert & Bennett manufactured hex netting mats for beach landings, tow targets for air gunnery training, and galvanized wire for signal corps assault wire and armoring electric cable. They also wove a special mesh of nickel wire for the Manhattan Project.

Following the war, the factory and the town greatly expanded.

At the factory, the transition from antique to modern machinery had to be engineered in such a way that production continued to flow unimpeded by the major construction jobs that were taking place at the same time. About this time, the Georgetown factory was handling approximately 200 tons of metal per week, mostly by human brawn working in multiple shifts. New buildings were built around old buildings, and other buildings were simply enlarged – but not once was the ancient machinery turned off.

Once the new machinery had been slid in next to the empty new space around the old machinery and readied for production, the processes were transferred to the modern units and the old were reduced to dust. To give a mental visual of this concerted effort of

A map of property owners in Georgetown during the early to mid-20th century

renewal and improvement: one of the new structures that was built to surround an old one added 21,000 square feet of floor space!

At that time, Georgetown was referred to as a village, and it was one. The community and the factory were one. Everyone was connected to the factory in some way, and it was the central focus in both location and spirit. Most, if not all, families ran their daily schedules via the factory whistle.

The whistle would tell you it was time to get up, when to come to work, when to take your lunch, when the shift(s) were over, etc… The factory ran six days a week, Saturday being a half day and Sunday was for church and family time. There were a large number of families, and most families had many children. A friend of my grandfather’s would often refer to Portland Avenue as “Incubator Avenue”, and it most certainly was. The village was alive and full of activity, as there were no devices, televisions, or video games to distract anyone from good, wholesome outdoor fun. The stories and photos shared from this time reflect an active, high quality of outdoor life and celebrations.

In the next installment of this series, we will explore the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s and note the postWorld War II changes and their impact on the factory and the town. g Brent Colley is Co-Historian for the Town of Redding

October 12, 2023 l Redding Sentinel l 7

Obituaries Jean Florence Swank

August 30, 1931 – August 15, 2023

Jean Florence Swank

Jean Florence Swank passed away on August 15, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

In addition to her husband Dick and her ten grandchildren, Jean leaves behind her four sons: Scott Swank of Palm Springs, CA; Mark Swank of Bedford, NY; Andrew (Amy) Swank of Port Chester, NY;

and Steven (Mimi) Swank of Tiburon, CA. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Cindy Swank.

Born on August 30, 1931, in New Haven, Jean was the cherished daughter of Allen and Florence Goodspeed. Her upbringing amidst her father’s forestry career allowed her to explore various states, including Maine, Iowa, and West Virginia. Summers spent camping in the Great Northwest fostered a deep appreciation for nature and its beauty within her.

Jean’s academic pursuits led her to West Virginia University, where she pursued a passion for languages and graduated with honors as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. Recognizing her exceptional potential, Jean was selected as a Fulbright scholar, embarking on a transformative year in Tübingen, Germany where she immersed herself in German culture and formed lifelong friendships.

Returning to the United States,

Jean shared her Fulbright experiences through lectures at schools and civic organizations, inspiring others with her international perspective. She even contributed her linguistic skills as a translator for the CIA during a brief period.

Jean’s intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge were ever-present, shaping her journey.

Jean’s greatest joy came from her role as a devoted wife to Richard (Dick) Swank, whom she married in 1955. Together, they built a life filled with adventure and love.

Throughout Dick’s successful career, which led them through more than ten domestic and international moves, Jean remained the pillar of strength, supporting his endeavors and creating a sense of home wherever they went. Both Rye, NY and Redding were home to Dick and Jean for the past 40 years.

Family was at the core of Jean’s being. She embraced her grandmother’s charge to keep the family

united, a responsibility she wholeheartedly championed. Every summer, family members would gather in North Hero, VT, and major holidays were cherished occasions to celebrate together. Jean’s dedication to these traditions persisted even after her father’s passing in 1991, ensuring that the annual reunion continued, often bringing together more than 50 family members including her ten devoted grandchildren who coined the pet names “Nama” and “Nampa” for Jean and Dick.

Jean’s engaging nature and genuine interest in others left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her children’s friends regarded her and Dick as the epitome of “cool parents”, while her own children found solace and guidance in her unwavering support. Jean’s magnetic personality made everyone she spoke to feel like the center of attention, cementing lifelong friendships and

creating treasured memories.

As a testament to her unique spirit, Jean’s musical toasts became her trademark. These whimsical and heartfelt gestures added a touch of magic to weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries, leaving an everlasting impression on all who experienced them.

To celebrate Jean’s remarkable life and bid her a fond farewell, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at Christ Church Redding, 184 Cross Highway.

Following the service, a reception will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Redding Roadhouse at 406 Redding Road.

Let us remember Jean Florence Swank as an extraordinary woman who lived life with elegance, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to family and friends. She will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and her legacy will continue to inspire us all. g

made casters. Her focus shifted to caring for her family after she married Anthony George Paradise, Sr. in 1946 and later became a mother of three children, to whom she remained extremely close. When she became a grandmother in 1981, she became known as Grandma ‘P’ to a new generation of children and their friends. Grandma ‘P’ was as likely to giggle and dance with her grandchildren as she was to assign them chores. She embodied and reinforced the importance of treating everyone – including yourself – with respect.

Clarabelle noticed and appreciated the details of life – a hat someone was wearing, a squirrel tucked away eating an acorn, the flowers on her daily walks, the way water droplets formed on the window of her apartment – which she often shared with others. She knew how to turn the everyday into a gift, and she understood that gifts are given from the heart. She sent thoughtfully hand-written cards for every holiday, clipped personalized newspaper articles for family and friends, warned her neighbors and relatives across the country of impending weather, and made a point of making eye contact and saying hello to every person she passed.

She celebrated every holiday,

birthday, concert, and family event with the perfect festive outfit, her signature cake (baked exclusively by her until she was 95), and party favors for all. Her strong blue eyes drank in the world around her and she did her best to share what she received.

People often found themselves smiling within the first few minutes of meeting Clarabelle. Her dry, quick wit, contagious laugh, Snoopy pins (she loved anything and everything Snoopy), and dismissive hand gestures of anything she found to be absurd, relaxed people. As she aged, her joy and laughter became infectious. Every day she would walk, and later wheel with her daughter Clare, the 2.5 miles of boardwalk in West Haven at Savin Rock and wave to everyone she passed. She became Queen of the Boardwalk.

She was never ‘too old.’ Clarabelle traveled frequently out of state until she was 100, she read nearly every day until just before her passing, and after breaking her hip in 2013, learned to walk again.

Clarabelle would often be asked about her secret to living a long life. Her response was to shrug. ‘I don’t know,’ she’d say. ‘I just live my life.’

Clarabelle lived a life that was

strong and uncompromising, as true to herself as she could be at any given moment. She passed on September 24, 2023. The force of her presence is noticeably absent and greatly missed.

Clarabelle was pre-deceased by her husband, Anthony George Paradise, Sr., and son Anthony George Paradise, Jr. She is survived by her children, Robert Paradise, Robert’s wife Sandy, her devoted daughter Clare, and George’s widow Barbara; her grandchildren, Michael Paradise (partner Shelly Hart), Lindsey Paradise, Allison Paradise, and Heather Paradise-Carpenter, Heather’s husband Aaron and their daughter Gwendolyn; her cousin Barbara Brick; her dear friend Paul and her ‘baby’ Captain; and by the countless people whose lives she touched with a smile and a wave.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green. Interment will be on Saturday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the Redding Ridge Cemetery, in Redding.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Animal Haven, 89 Mill Road, North Haven, CT in her memory. g

panies including Suzy Perette and Emilio Pucci.

In the following years, Ashleigh devoted herself to being a wife and selflessly raising her two daughters. Once her daughters were in middle school, she stepped into the role of Animal Control Officer in Redding. In this position she was able to make a difference by saving many animals that would have surely met an untimely end.

Her compassion and professionalism were recognized by Redding residents and town officials alike.

After many years in this role, Ashleigh retired and turned her complete attention to spending

time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Ashleigh was a fiercely independent, elegant, spiritual woman who was a lover of nature and animals. Loyal beyond words to her family and friends, she will be greatly missed.

Ashleigh is survived by her two daughters: Ashleigh Blake and her husband, Joel Bruzinski of Sherman, and Amanda Blake and her husband, Christopher Neil of Easton. Ashleigh is also survived by her four grandchildren: Nathaniel and Eden Bruzinski as well as Calder and Agnes Neil. In addition, Ashleigh is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and

sister-in-law, Carolyn Eck. In addition to her parents, Ashleigh was predeceased by her siblings, Christian Eck Jr., Julius Eck, and Margaret Irish.

Family and friends may gather on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will take place privately.

Contributions in Ashleigh’s memory may be made to Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) Pleasant Paws Pet Center - 94 South Main Street; Newtown, CT 06470, https://daws.org/ gifts-and-memorial-donations/ g

Board of Education, they also traveled the world together, often with friends, during their summer vacations and in their retirement.

After spending their entire lives in Brooklyn, upon retirement, they moved to Florida along with many of their friends and had a wonderful life there.

She was loving, kind, thoughtful, considerate, open to new ideas, and adored by all who knew her.

She loved to read, often finishing

a book a day. She made activity books and costumes for her grandchildren. She played mah-jongg and bridge, attended theater and movies, and remained very active.

She had a brilliant intelligence which she maintained to the very end.

She loved her children, Steven and the late Michael, and their spouses, Peggy and Gayle. She adored her grandchildren and their spouses: Dena and Gideon, Jodi

and Michael, Zac and Amanda, Matt and Arielle, Mandy, and her late grandson Jordan. Her great grandchildren were truly her delight. Arlo, Zade, and Maya brought her a great deal of joy.

She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

If you would like to make a donation in her memory, we suggest Hadassah, Planned Parenthood, or the New Israel Fund. g

Clarabelle Mertha Paradise

December 7, 1918 – September 24, 2023

Clarabelle Mertha Paradise

104 years, 291 days. ~38,251 sunrises . ~114,753 hugs. ~765,020 smiles shared. ~125 million tears shed. ~12,896 rainy days. ~76,502 I-love-yous. One life.

Clarabelle Mertha Paradise, née Osborn, was born December 7, 1918 in Bridgeport. A lifelong resident of Connecticut, she called Redding home until 1976 and, after living in Bethel for three years, she settled in West Haven. She was well-known where she lived and traveled – if people didn’t know her directly, they knew of her. She was a force. Her voice was her own, strong and clear.

Born in an era where women were taught to be quiet and invisible, Clarabelle refused to be either.

She shared in the world, shared her joy and frustration, without reservation. She was a tireless advocate for herself and the people and animals she loved. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, friends, and neighbors all knew that Clarabelle, or ‘Mom’ as she was affectionately called, had their back. Animals sensed this as well and her home became a favorite hang-out spot for neighbors’ dogs, to her delight.

Clarabelle spent her early years living with her mother, Clara Hart, in the telephone office in Redding, where her mother worked as a switchboard operator. Callers to the operator would often be greeted by very young Clarabelle, who answered the phone when her mother could not. After Clara married Sam Osborn in 1925, the family moved to the Ridge in Redding.

Clarabelle graduated from Danbury High School in 1936 – there was no high school in Redding at the time – and attended Connecticut College until 1938. Preferring a more dynamic environment, Clarabelle left the college and graduated instead from Butler Business School in 1940. After graduation, she supported the war effort by working as an administrator for Bassick, a company that

Ashleigh Rosalie Blake

November 22, 1937 – October 1, 2023

Ashleigh Rosalie Blake

Ashleigh Rosalie Blake, 85, of New Fairfield, formerly of Redding and longtime resident of Rotonda West, FL died peacefully on Sunday, October 1, 2023.

A native Floridian, Ashleigh was born to the late Christian and Margaret (Cundiff) Eck in Lake Butler, FL on November 22, 1937.

She grew up in Jacksonville surrounded by her brothers and sister and later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ashleigh relocated to the metropolitan area, where she worked in New York City as a secretary at Time-Life Incorporated as well as a fashion model for various com-

Jean W. Zamore

June 29, 1918 – October 4, 2023

Jean W. Zamore

Jean W. Zamore passed away on October 4, 2023. She was 105 years old. Born in Brooklyn, she was the oldest of three sisters. She had a thirst for knowledge and was the first in her family to attend college and graduate school, earning the equivalent of a doctorate. She was a beloved kindergarten teacher for 35 years. She was married to Manny for over 45 years. They had a wonderful life together. Both educators with the New York City

8 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023

Business Spotlight Georgetown Collective: now open

A new coworking and community space on Main Street

By Justin Reynolds

Modern quilts on display at Mark Twain Library

By Lisa Goldstein

Jess Tyson, founder of the newly opened Georgetown Collective.

The new coworking space has an area for desks, a conference room, living room, and balcony.

There’s a new coworking space in the center of Georgetown.

In September, Georgetown Collective opened its doors at 28 Main Street — right above Crystals & Cones and right behind the recently shuttered Georgetown Automotive.

“Georgetown Collective is a small coworking space with enough space for four or five desks,” said founder Jess Tyson.

“We have part-time and full-time options for people who want to work outside of home. It’s such a good location, and the light and floors are amazing. It’s just a beautiful space.”

In addition to quiet office space, Georgetown Collective also has a conference room that’s available to rent for meetings and community activities, along with a living room which is more of a “chill hangout room” with access to the balcony.

“I’m trying to create a calmer environment than what a lot of people have at home — especially if they have kids at home or someone else also working from home,” Tyson explained. “I’m the kind of person who needs different physical spaces to be in, and that’s what I’ve done with the space.

We have a laptop bar in the living room that people can use if they want to stand up or want a change of scenery.”

It’s taken Tyson a few months to get the facility ready for coworkers.

“I wasn’t moving from another space,” she said. “I had to fully furnish the space, and everything is brand-new.”

Tyson — who’s also the founder of a virtual assistant agency called Don’t Panic Management, which

launched in 2011 and has 25 employees — has been working at Georgetown Collective by herself for the last few months.

Now, she’s looking forward to filling the space with new coworkers.

“I’m also the new President of Redding Neighbors & Newcomers, and I want to get people who moved here the last couple of years more involved in the town,” she said. “I want people who are going to work but also help with the vision of revitalizing Georgetown, getting people in there, and supporting each other’s businesses. It’s important to me that people who end up becoming involved in this are in alignment with the mission I have to enhance the Georgetown community.”

In addition to a working space, Tyson envisions Georgetown Collective to be a community hub of sorts, with pop-up markets on the weekend where local businesses can showcase what they’re working on and social events hosted outside working hours.

“If you’re not interested in a coworking space or renting a conference room, you can still sign up for the social membership option and get first dibs when we do events,” she said. “While we will maintain a calm, focused environment during the workweek, we’ll do things that involve other members of the community on evenings and weekends.”

Tyson, who grew up in Glastonbury, moved to Redding in 2019 with her husband to get closer to his job.

“I was 8 months pregnant with my son, who was born six weeks

after we moved, and then it was Covid,” she said. “I had a really hard time meeting people. My husband is a teacher in New Canaan and had his own community there, but I didn’t know anyone here.”

While the transition to Redding was difficult for Tyson, she made the most of it, launching a Facebook group for moms called Redding Moms Gab Group, which helped her begin to forge connections with neighbors.

“It’s a safe space for moms to share what they’re dealing with,” she said. “There aren’t sidewalks in town, and no one is strolling down the street. You have to be intentional about meeting people, and since I love planning things and getting people together, I decided to host a mom’s group.”

Since launching the group, it’s grown to include over 110 moms, who get together once a month for an outing.

Though Tyson hadn’t heard of Redding before buying a house here, she knows she landed in the right place.

“Unless you’re from this part of Connecticut, you don’t know about this town. Being in a small town, I feel like more people are engaged because they feel like they have a voice,” she said. “My ideas for the community I’ve had so far have been really well-received, and that inspires me to do more. I do feel like this is the perfect spot for me right now. Hopefully, it works out and we can expand.” g For more information, visit georgetowncollective.org

Redding Big Outdoors: Redding Land Trust to honor Buzz Merritt on October 14 / continued from page 1

Photo by Jessie Wright

Ledgeway Road off Rock House Road. The Land Trust recommends using 34 Ledgeway Road for GPS directions, but make sure not to block any driveways when parking – carpooling is encouraged. Dedication remarks will kick off the morning’s hike, which will then take you through woodlands, hills (note: some of which are quite steep), and brooks. Wear footwear and clothing suited for muddy terrain and autumn weather.

Following the hike, at 1:00 p.m. folks will gather at the Redding Grange at 399 Newtown Turnpike

to enjoy autumn refreshments and continue the celebration of Buzz Merritt’s contributions to Redding and its big outdoors.

If you are unable to join the hike on Sunday, you can access the Buzz Merritt trail anytime, or enter The Mahony Gifts from the entrance on Sport Hill Road, across from Ground Pine Sanctuary. The Book of Trails describes this option in the following way: “The accessway from Sport Hill Road leads to an old logging road that winds through open, sunny woods.

A pleasant stroll.” g

Photos by Lisa Goldstein

The rotunda at the Mark Twain Library is filled with a display of quilts in all shapes and sizes in various forms and an array of colors thanks to its latest exhibit, “Modern Quilting in Southern Connecticut.”

Exhibit Coordinator June Myles called the variety of quilting projects and accoutrements of the quilting trade, “charmingly delightful”.

The items on display were put together by members of the Southern Connecticut Modern Quilt Guild and show how quilts can be used for much more than just bedding. Some are quilted replicas of famous artwork that can be hung on a wall, while others have taken shape as handbags or pouches. There are a few made with neutral colors that seem soft and traditional and many modern creations including a map depicting the nostalgia of the quilter’s youth. One of the quilts on display was made by 11 members of the Guild – one member started it, then sent the beginnings of the quilt to another and each person added on until it was completed nearly a year later.

“Quilting is something that in some cultures came out of necessity, where you would save every piece of fabric to provide a warm safe place for your family,” explained Redding’s Brenda Phelps, who is currently the President of the Southern Connecticut Modern Quilt Guild.

“A lot of those projects represent hundreds of hours of people’s work. Modern quilting wants to celebrate that and bring it to an audience in a way that it’s not just your great-grandmother’s quilt, or what we think of as an oldfashioned project.”

The Southern Connecticut Quilt Guild is a group of quilters who meet regularly in

Weston but occasionally will post a new meeting location on social media. Their mission is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting. According to the Guild’s website, modern quilting “includes, but is not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work.” Part of modern quilting can also incorporate updating or repurposing classic quilt designs.

The birth of modern quilting can be attributed, according to the Modern Quilt Guild, to a moment in 1998 when a quilter featured on Martha Stewart Living at the time described her quilts as “chic, modernist aesthetic.” This new style of quilting gained popularity in the early 2000s, and the Modern Quilt Guild formed in 2009 in Los Angeles.

The Southern Connecticut Quilt Guild started ten years ago and is composed of roughly 30 members from all over southern Connecticut as well as parts of New York. In addition to holding regular meetings, they also offer workshops and classes on modern quilting and welcome all levels.

The Mark Twain Library features exhibits in its rotunda several times throughout the year.

The modern quilts will be on display through November 9 and can be viewed during the Library’s regular business hours. g

October 12, 2023 l Redding Sentinel l 9

Book Review

Library Corner

The Pole

By Erin Shea Dummeyer

By J.M. Coetzee

Liveright / 167 p.p. / $26

J.M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003, and he was the first writer to win the Booker Prize twice. There is a reason for this. In addition to being deeply thoughtful as he creates his characters, Coetzee is a craftsman of fiction. The narrative form used here is a sequence of 200 to 400-word numbered texts, not exactly chapters — rather, these narratives are thoughts in the mind of Beatriz. A 74-yearold Polish pianist has declared his love for her. He is the Pole of the title. She consistently resists participation in an affair with him.

Coetzee, as author, seems at times almost to be asking his characters for clarity of purpose. He puts reader’s misgivings into the mind of Beatriz as she considers an affair which she intends, determinedly, not to consummate. On vacation in Mallorca, her typical meditations are as follows: “The rest of the week yawns before her. How are they going to occupy their time?...

What does the man want? What does she want?”

The answer is that her denial is dominant and blinding. She

can’t see what she wants. Indeed, while her own misgiving centers on the overwhelming question of reciprocity, she loves being loved.

While resisting his attraction, she pursues his intention, responds to it, continues to sustain it, and ultimately converts it into an epistolary relationship with a now deceased lover. This is a form of grieving, but she never acknowledges her feelings to herself, though they are obvious to everybody else.

Coetzee tells his characters’ story, he doesn’t show it, violating nearly every rule of fiction.

Nevertheless, he has written a remarkable exegesis of late love.

It is not star-struck, not perfect. It is as flawed as his elderly lovers who nevertheless find themselves in an imperfect union. Beatriz does not love Withold. Withold’s passion for Beatriz is inexact.

Nevertheless, their story is human, and resonates truth. Life does not often present neat packages.

Rather, it presents continuing opportunities for exploration of meaning and purpose. Search, not discovery, is the point. And a willingness to fail is sometimes the harbinger of success. In The Pole, J. M. Coetzee underscores denial as a natural resistance to inconvenient emotional truth.

Without demeaning entire fulfillment as necessary to an idea of love between intelligent persons, Coetzee affirms love in its backward ways as meaningful to fulfillment, however inexact and private. Against best judgement, love triumphs as life’s greatest experience. g Review by Tom Casey Tom is the author of Human Error and Strangers’ Gate

A Mark Twain-ism oft quoted here at the Library came from a letter he wrote for Massachusetts’ Millicent Library’s dedication in 1894. “A public library is the most enduring of memorials…” Perhaps he knew he would one day leave a similar memorial to Redding, using his personal book collection.

We recently lost a great friend of the Mark Twain Library but take comfort in the legacy she left on our building, programs, and

services. Lisa Reese gave countless hours to the Mark Twain Library. She co-chaired our last capital campaign in 2000, which expanded our children’s section and altered the layout of our building. She served as Board President and created our Hermes Art Series, which fosters dialogue between visual and musical artists and their audience. It is not hyperbolic to say that the Mark Twain Library would be demonstrably differ-

Nod to the pod

ent without Lisa’s contributions.

She left an indelible mark on the Library, which will now serve as the enduring memorial to her that Mark Twain mentioned. Lisa will be sorely missed, but she will not be forgotten. g Erin Shea Dummeyer is Director, Mark Twain Library

Revisionist History, “Free Brian Williams”

Each week, a one-episode recommendation from a podcast you might love.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about reexamining the past. He takes a second look at well-known people, places, and events and poses the question: Have we been getting this wrong?

“Free Brian Williams” is Part Two of Gladwell’s study on human

memory and “our naive ideas about what memory is worth.”

It takes us back to former NBC anchorman Brian Williams’ claim, told on Late Night with David Letterman in 2013, that in 2003 during the Iraq War, the helicopter he was riding on was shot down.

Shortly after the broadcast, the flight crews from that day spoke up: Brian Williams had not been on that helicopter. And thus begins

l

By Amy Maloof

Gladwell’s musings on memory.

Did Williams lie? Or did he create a false memory in the span of a decade? Should we let people off the hook when they stumble like Williams? (My mom: “Uhh, no.”)

Gladwell is a gifted wordsmith and entertainer who can delight and infuriate in equal measure.

Sometimes I keep listening just to craft the perfect rebuttal to his contrarian arguments, but in this case, I’ve taken his thoughts to heart. Whenever I find myself absolutely certain that my version of the story is correct, I (ironically) remember that memory is deeply flawed, and I back down. Because, as Gladwell cautions, “only a fool accepts the evidence of his own memory as gospel....[and] we’re all fools.” g

10 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023

New non-profit helps residents overcome Helping seniors cultivate isolation with flowers, music, and safe, beautiful homes interaction l

By Pamela Brown

By Justin Reynolds

Despite living in an age of ubiquitous connectivity, some 60% of Americans report feeling lonely on a regular basis.

To help local residents overcome feelings of isolation — and combat the associated symptoms of increased stress and exacerbated depression, anxiety, and selfesteem issues — Ginger Smith recently founded an organization called SOAR Together.

“SOAR Together is a new non-profit founded in Redding earlier this year with a mission of ending the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation in Fairfield County through in-person and virtual gatherings designed for social engagement,” said Smith, a Redding resident who’s the CEO of the organization, which earned non-profit status on September 25.

The way Smith sees it, virtual connectivity and real-world loneliness go hand-in-hand.

“For young people, it’s led to constant social comparison and steep declines in mental health,” she said. “With the advent of working from home and increased pressure to outperform, many individuals in the workforce have lost things like water cooler conversations, lunch breaks, and walks around the block.”

It has become a slippery slope for older adults, too, Smith continued.

“FaceTime with family is a wonderful thing — but not when it’s a replacement for regular social engagement.”

Smith is a social worker with a 30-year career working across all sectors of social services — “from direct practice to program development to fundraising for cancer patients, older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers,” she explained.

“The common thread between these groups is feelings of isolation and loneliness,” Smith said. “Loneliness is something we all understand more than ever having lived through the Covid-19 pandemic. Part of SOAR’s mission is raising awareness about isolation and loneliness and that, for many people, isolation did not begin in 2020 and is still their reality today.”

Photos courtesy of SOAR Together

A volunteer delivers a flower arrangement to a local resident as part of SOAR Together’s Flower Power program.

SOAR Together’s pilot program is called Flower Power. In it, the team identifies isolated individuals by contacting local assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and asking staff to help create lists of residents who don’t engage in group activities or don’t have family that visits frequently.

“With some agencies, we drop off arrangements delivered by visiting nurses and social workers to those contending with health issues in their own homes,” Smith said. “We also partner with agencies such as Meals on Wheels and Open Doors Shelter and have begun connecting with local therapists and town social services departments.”

Once the individuals are identified, the SOAR team picks up flowers from its sponsors — The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield and Alice’s Flower Shop in Bethel — and brings them back to Smith’s home. The team then gets to work creating individual arrangements.

“We try to have a variety of colors and styles each week, so recipients can choose the arrangement that brings them the most joy,” Smith said. “There’s something special about flowers that evokes memories and brings smiles to everyone who receives them. Our flower arrangements are made inside recyclable white coffee cups to make them easy to transport, and we write the message ‘You are Loved’ on each cup.”

In addition to Flower Power, SOAR Together also offers online “GIGS” meetups.

“GIGS stands for Gathering in Groups and is also a reference

to music gigs, which connote togetherness, joy, and laughter,” Smith continued. “That’s the feeling we want participants to have every SOAR program.”

When she was planning to launch SOAR for a bigger audience, she knew virtual gatherings would be part of the operation.

“We plan to begin with cooking and music GIGS and expand from there as the days get colder and more time is spent indoors,” Smith said. The non-profit is also planning to host several in-person gatherings as well.

Currently, SOAR Together is an all-volunteer team; each member is called a “Spark.”

“They are sparking connections, conversations, and smiles,” Smith said, adding that each Spark is trained by the organization on how to communicate effectively and how to arrange flowers. “We also feel strongly about recruiting volunteers who are personally experiencing loneliness and isolation. It’s a win-win to feel empowered and connected through service.”

After three decades as a social worker, Smith is confident she’s found the perfect role.

“Social connection is as essential as any other fundamental need,” Smith said. “It’s a mission I feel called to serve for the remainder of my career.” g To learn more about SOAR Together, including programming and how to get involved or donate, visit soartogetherct.org

CTDOT proposed service cuts will mean fewer Danbury Line trains / Fares also set to hike / continued from page 1

proposed changes reflect this ‘new normal’ by prioritizing morning and evening peak train service and introducing bus service changes to meet a new demand,” said CTDOT Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer in the Department’s announcement.

CTDOT held a series of in-person and virtual public hearings from September 18 to October 4 to provide information and accept public comments on the service and fare proposals and the Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis.

CTDOT officials were also available at other locations including the Stamford Transportation Center.

The SAFE analysis evaluates the proposed changes to determine if they will cause a disparate impact on people of color or a disproportionate burden to people with low incomes.

Thirteen individuals were registered to speak at the October 4 hearing. Among these were elected officials State Representatives Christine Conley and Anthony Nolan, who expressed their dislike of the plan.

“Cutting service to Shore Line East will be detrimental to our residents who commute from New Haven to New London and back

for work. And we think that this cut of almost 25% is not beneficial to our growing economy,” Conley said.

“My family moved to Fairfield County last year in part because of the reliability of the New Haven Line for access to New York City. We were regular users of the railroad, and we were very disappointed about the prospect of reduced service,” Marc Schechter said. “Traffic in Fairfield County is terrible. Construction doesn’t abate, road capacity is not increasing, even as the population is up.

Reduction in train services…will make the roads more crowded, especially this large Friday reduction, which is a day when the roads are already packed in the region. I don’t want to see more roads built, but I want to see more people taking the train,” Schechter continued.

Loretta Seles said, “Looking at ridership figures in a four-year period, that includes an unprecedented event. Just looking at the Covid-19 pandemic is poorly supported and myopic. The previous commenter said, and I shared this belief, that at a high level and in the long term we should be shifting resources to improving rail and infrastructure and encouraging public use of rail not discouraging it, even if does not make immediate economic sense.”

Carly Kramer shared her comments as both a Metro North rider and urban planner in Norwalk.

She frequently uses the train from Fairfield Metro North Station to South Norwalk to work a hybrid schedule outside the “typical 9-to5 times. …and many times to go

into the city after work for recreational activities and entertainment and other destinations along the New Haven Line and Connecticut.” Kramer noted she’d taken the train to Bridgeport for the Sound on the Sound music festival and “it was packed.”

“So, we’re talking about catering service around commuters, a lot of times we’re forgetting about the other users of the train who are using these for daily needs, to visit friends and family, go to restaurants and frequent businesses in Fairfield County. In addition to that, reducing rail service on the busiest line in America, really the Northeast Corridor, is not encouraging,” Kramer said.

Public comment ended October 5. “We’ll take into account all the comments and feedback received through the public hearings and ones that came in via e-mail, voicemail, or mail, and make any revisions to try and meet customer demands. The new fares would take effect around November 1, and the service changes would start later this fall or early next year,” said CTDOT Spokesperson Josh Morgan. g Full details on the proposed service and fare changes are available at ct.gov/dot/ proposedtransitchanges

A volunteer crew for the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity Aging in Place program.

When Fran and Glen Moore of Redding needed help with their overgrown garden, they turned to Housatonic Habitat for Humanity for assistance. “We were so elated we’d be getting this project done.

A lot of seniors in Redding and other towns may feel they don’t want to bother someone by saying they can’t do something because they’re not physically or mentally able to do it, so to have this service come and do that little thing – for us, yard work – means so much,” said Fran of the organization’s Spring Clean Up Initiative. The initiative is part of the non-profit’s Aging in Place (AIP) program, a volunteer-driven project that assists seniors and low-income veterans in upper Fairfield and lower Litchfield counties with essential home repairs and accessibility modifications. “They don’t look at it as they’re doing charity – they look at it as they’re helping a neighbor,” said Fran.

In their mid-70s, the Moores needed help with a large area near their driveway. Highly allergic to poison ivy and lacking a green thumb, Fran couldn’t do the work herself. “They did more than I could have physically done,” she said. About 12 volunteers from Savings Bank of Danbury arrived with their own tools and worked three to four hours. “They were gung-ho and not intimidated by the bushes. They were right in there and cleaned the garden area down to the dirt and took out the wild raspberry and bittersweet vines growing along the driveway. Not only did they pull out all the weeds and trim the bushes, they also carted it up to the compost pile and totally cleaned the area. When it was all done, we stood there in amazement. We haven’t seen it look that good in years.”

According to Amelia Anderson, Marketing and Development Director for Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, older Americans are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country. By 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be 65 or older, yet more than 19 million older adults are living in homes in disrepair or ill-equipped to safely meet their needs. Operating without cost to the homeowners, AIP provides basic interior and exterior home repairs, including exterior painting or yard work; replacing broken windows and

doors and exterior stairs; fixing locks; accessibility modifications for hearing and vision impaired homeowners; widening doors for improved wheelchair accessibility; grab bars/handrails; and minor bathroom modifications, as well as energy efficiency upgrades.

“Housatonic Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. We build community and improve lives by partnering with low-income families, community volunteers, and donors to build decent and affordable homes in stable and welcoming neighborhoods and work with families to help them acquire the access, skills, and financial education necessary for them to be successful homeowners,” explained Anderson. “Our goal is to give people a chance to live in simple, decent homes they can afford and sustain.”

Fran said the crew constantly asked if other work needed to be done. “Sharing our stories with them and getting to know people was wonderful. Everyone treated us like we were old friends. I’m hoping they’ll come back next spring,” she said. Seeing the finished product made the Moores happy. “Everything was so pretty.

It encouraged me to keep the garden nice for summer. The garden wouldn’t have looked like that if they hadn’t come to do it. We’re thankful to see the flowers blooming. We went our separate ways at the end feeling good about it.”

Anderson reinforced that AIP is a lifeline for seniors and low-income veterans, ensuring that they can maintain their homes’ safety and functionality. “We know that aging in place extends longevity and quality of life, and safe and stable housing and community networks are core to these outcomes,” she said. g To learn more or participate in this program, call:(203) 744-1340 or e-mail: info@housatonichabitat.org

October 12, 2023 l Redding Sentinel l 11

Calendar of Events

$ = fee applies R = registration required

This Week’s Featured Events Redding Garden Club presents “Life & Limb” Monday, October 16 11:30 a.m. Light lunch 1:00 p.m. Talk Speaker: Charlie Hyatt, Founder of Evergreen Arborists, and Redding Tree Warden.

Redding Community Center 37 Lonetown Road For more information: reddinggardenclub.org

Arts Sunday, October 15 The Great Necks Guitar Trio with Jacob Reuven, Mandolin 3:00 p.m.

WCSU Visual & Performing Arts Center Veronica Hagman Concert Hall 43 Lake Avenue Extension Danbury eventbrite.com/e/danbury-concertassociation-2023-24-seriestickets-674641941207 R

Annual Harvest Festival – Science and Nature Day! Saturday, October 14 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Rain date Sunday, October 15 Check website for rainy day event information.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org

Tuesday, October 24 Pumpkin Carving, Grades 3-5 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org $, R

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Saturday, October 28

Children I Teens

Bethel CT Pride’s Halloween Party 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Middle School ages 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. High School ages First Congregational Church of Bethel 46 Main Street Bethel RSVP suggested bethelctpride.com

Wednesday, October 18

Saturday, October 28

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Storytime for Children with Adults, Ages 1-5 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org $, R

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Wednesday, October 18 How to Apply to College with Priyanka Shingala 7:30 p.m.

Zoom Mark Twain Library marktwainlibrary.org R g

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Redding Neighbors & Newcomers Trunk or Treat 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Admission is a bag of candy.

Redding Community Center parking lot 37 Lonetown Road reddingneighborsandnewcomers. org R

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Monday, October 30 Tiny Tots Halloween Parade 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Ages birth – 5 Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road marktwainlibrary.org R g

Fundraisers Thursday, October 12 Cigar Dinner Fundraiser 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds to support Redding First Responders and the Redding Country Club Employee Scholarship Fund Redding Country Club 109 Lonetown Road eventbrite.com/e/cigar-dinnerfundraiser-tickets-706933536237 $, R

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Saturday, October 14 RES PTA Savers FUNDrive 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Gently used clothing drive.

Drop-off at Redding Elementary School.

Redding Elementary School 33 Lonetown Road facebook.com/RESPTA

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Saturday, October 21 Boys & Girls Club Bash Annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Easton-Redding The Spinning Wheel 109 Black Rock Turnpike BGCBash.eventbrite.com $, R g

Holiday Sunday, October 22 Halloween Petting Zoo and Dress Up Photo Shoot 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Petting zoo and photos sitting on George the Pony. Proceeds to benefit Animal Shelter and ECC Samuel Staples Elementary School 515 Morehouse Road

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Health I Wellness Monday, October 16 Navigating Long Term Care Insurance 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. by appointment Heritage Center 37 Lonetown Road E-mail mstillman@ townofreddingct.org or call (203) 938-9725 to set up an appointment R

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Tuesdays, October 17 and 24 Harvesting Strength: A New Pond Farm Yoga Series 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Bring a mat or blanket, water, and dress appropriately for the weather. No experience needed.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org $, R

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Fridays, October 20 – November 10 Finding Peace in the Paddock with Melissa Jarzynski and The Riding in Redding Herd 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Sooth body and mind with a series that combines horsemanship, grounding, stretching, somatic practices, and energy assessment.

Riding in Redding 301 Redding Road melissajeanpt.com/ peaceinthepaddock $, R g

Conversations in a Brave Space Part II: What is Woke?

Tuesday, October 17 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Created in partnership with the Redding League of Women Voters and Mark Twain Library.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road marktwainlibrary.org

Nature Saturday, October 14 Annual Harvest Festival – Science and Nature Day! 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Rain date Sunday, October 15 Broom making, fleece spinning, livestock encounters, pumpkin decorating, beeswax candles, falcon demonstrations, and more.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org $

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Wednesday, October 18 A Stone’s Throw – Explore Norwalk River Valley Trails!

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Small group guided tour of the Wilton, East Side portion of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, organized by the Mark Twain Library.

Gather at commuter parking lot at intersection of Wolf Pit Road and Route 7 Wilton marktwainlibrary.org R

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Meetings

Want to feature an upcoming event?

E-mail us at advertise@reddingsentinel.org for more information.

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Sunday, October 22 Redding Grange 2nd Annual Agricultural Fair 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Enter into 13 competition categories and enjoy an array of agricultural offerings.

Pre-registration for non-perishable competition items on October 20 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and October 21 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Redding Grange #15 399 Newtown Turnpike reddinggrange.org g

Religious Services Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (in person) or 10:15 a.m. (Zoom) 44 Portland Avenue bethlehemlutheranct.org

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Calvary Independent Baptist Church Adult and Child Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. / Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday prayer meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Nursery provided for all services 711 Redding Road cibcredding.org

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Christ Church, Episcopal Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

184 Cross Highway christchurchredding.org

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First Church of Christ, Congregational Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

25 Cross Highway firstchurchredding.org

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Long Ridge United Methodist Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

201 Long Ridge Road Danbury longridgeumc.com

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Redding Historic Cemetery Committee 2:00 p.m.

Town Hall 100 Hill Road townofreddingct.org

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Thursday, October 12

Sacred Heart / St. Patrick Parish Sacred Heart Church: Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m.

Saturday Eucharistic Adoration: 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

12:00 noon LATIN Weekday Mass: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday 6:00 p.m. LATIN 30 Church Street St. Patrick Church: Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Mass: 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m.

Weekday Mass: Monday – Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Mondays and Thursdays Eucharistic Adoration: 7:00 p.m.

169 Black Rock Turnpike sacredheart-stpat.org

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Temple B’nai Chaim Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

82 Portland Avenue Georgetown templebnaichaim.org g

Sunday, October 22 National Reptile Day – Animal Meet and Greet 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

New Pond Farm Education Center 101 Marchant Road newpondfarm.org $, R (free for members)

Thursday, October 12

Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill Advisory Committee 6:00 p.m.

Town Hall / Hearing Room Subject to virtual or hybrid townofreddingct.org

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Monday, October 16 Board of Selectmen 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall / Hearing Room 100 Hill Road townofreddingct.org

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Tuesday, October 17 Region 9 Board of Education 7:00 p.m.

Joel Barlow High School / Library Learning Commons 100 Black Rock Turnpike er9.org

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Tuesday, October 17 Zoning Board of Appeals 7:00 p.m.

Zoom townofreddingct.org

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Tuesday, October 17 Conservation Commission 7:30 p.m.

Old Town House 23 Cross Highway townofreddingct.org

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Special Programs Thursday, October 12 Dining and Entertainment in Mark Twain’s Gilded Age 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road marktwainlibrary.org R

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Friday, October 13 A Ghost Hunter’s Favorite Cases with Barry Pirro (Teens and Adults) 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Book signing following the discussion.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road marktwainlibrary.org R

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Saturday, October 14 Oktoberfest at Sacred Heart & St. Patrick Parish 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Authentic German beers, foods, music, and children’s activities.

169 Black Rock Turnpike Contact 203-938-2253 for more info

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Tuesday, October 17 Conversations in a Brave Space Part II: What is Woke?

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

With SHU Professor Bronwyn Cross-Denny, Ph.D., LCSW. Created in partnership with the Redding League of Women Voters and Mark Twain Library.

Mark Twain Library 439 Redding Road marktwainlibrary.org R

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Saturday, October 21 Redding Shred Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Transfer Station and Recycling Center 84 Hopewell Woods Road townofreddingct.org g

Wednesday, October 18 Fire District #2 Commissioners Meeting 7:00 p.m.

West Redding Firehouse 306 Umpawaug Road townofreddingct.org

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Wednesday, October 18 Water Pollution Control Commission 7:30 p.m.

Zoom townofreddingct.org

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Thursday, October 19 Historic Review Committee 6:30 p.m.

Zoom townofreddingct.org

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Thursday, October 19 Democratic Town Committee 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall / Hearing Room 100 Hill Road townofreddingct.org

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Monday, October 23 OPEB Trust Board 6:00 p.m.

Check website for location. townofreddingct.org

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Monday, October 23 Board of Finance 7:30 p.m.

Zoom townofreddingct.org

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Tuesday, October 24 ER9 Joint Boards of Education 7:00 p.m.

JBHS Library Learning Commons 100 Black Rock Turnpike er9.org

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Tuesday, October 24 Planning Commission 7:30 p.m.

Zoom townofreddingct.org g

12 l Redding Sentinel l October 12, 2023