068 Magazine January/February 2024

JANUARY/FEBRUARY • 2024

Have You Met? Megan Searfoss is in it for the Long Run

Don’t

Stress Alternative Ways to Deal with Stress

Car Buying Tips Wheeling and Dealing for Your New Ride

Welcome The Play Place Opens the Door to Fun

BOUND

BY PLASTIC

Solo Exposition by Meredith Mulhearn

Plastic Weaving / Performance Art / Multimedia Presentation VIP Tickets available at https://dcolabellagallery.artstorefronts.com/vip-pass-to-bound-by-plastic All proceeds support Surfrider Foundation & 4Ocean

Opening Reception FINE ART GALLERY

Thursday, January 18, 2024 • 6:00pm-9:00pm Exhibit Runs January 18, 2024 - March 10, 2024 D.Colabella Fine Art Gallery is located at 446 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT DColabellaFineArt.com | For Appointment Call (203) 894 - 5609

Contents

38 38 New Year, New You A fresh take on New Year’s Resolutions

42 More Than an Empty Space Art Exhibits at Danbury Fair Mall

48 Wheeling and Dealing Tips on Buying a New Car

56 5 Questions With The Ridgefield Playhouse’s Arts in Education Program

32 Stress Don’t

2 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

ON THE COVER Photography: Model: Location:

Dylan Miller Madeline Kraus The Smash Room Watertown, CT

Contents

In The Front 10

Noted

Ian Lewis

11 12

Behind The Scenes Old Ridgefield

One-room Schoolhouses

18

Have You Met? Megan Searfoss

22

Art In The Spotlight The Art of Sculpture

28

The Culinary Chemist The Science of Sourdough

18

In The Back 58

Foodies Brew Pubs

62

Is That a Thing?

Cold Plunging

64

58 4 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

68

Shout Out Welcome Wilton Play Place

72

One More Thing

Noted

by Ian Lewis

Grace

A

s someone who has devoted their career to the hospitality industry, I have a deep belief that grace is the embodiment of hospitality. Individually, our grace is potent, but collectively, our hospitality becomes extraordinary.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, this is a wonderous time to reflect on the power of sharing our own hospitality and grace with one another. Gently closing the door on the past year, while looking out on the new one, is a perfect time to embrace the opportunity for a new beginning than by challenging ourselves to live authentically, radiate brilliance, spread joy through brighter smiles, louder laughter, and love more profoundly. In today’s fraught and overwhelming pace of life, there is a call to connect with others - even a simple hello to a stranger becomes a poignant reminder of the transformative impact of genuine hospitality, and in turn, fosters a sense of community and shared humanity.

I am humbled and honored to share my new beginning for 2024 as the operating partner at Ross Artisanal Bakery & Café. Opening the door at Ross becomes a daily testament to the overflowing love, care, empathy, and grace emanating from the Ridgefield community. In return, the team at Ross strives to reciprocate this warmth. For them, each day is a fresh start, guided by the mantra “Go where you are appreciated, not tolerated.”

Here’s wishing you happy new beginnings in 2024!

Ian Lewis

Behind The Scenes

Vol 3, Issue 1 • January/February 2024

Dee Dee Colabella Owner dcolabella@rpacartcenter.com Greg Mursko Publisher publisher@068magazine.com Dylan Miller Chief Operating Officer dmiller@rpacartcenter.com

Julia Bruce Editor-In-Chief editor@068magazine.com Contributing Writers Jack Sanders, Sally Sanders, Julia Bruce, Kate Perry, Dee Dee Colabella, Erik Ofgang, Joey Macari, and Aline Weiller

Contributing Photographers Dylan Miller, Roger Garbow, Craig Lema, and Winter Caplanson

Advertising Sales David Gursky | 914.646.9141 sales@068magazine.com Marketplace Sales Jennifer Klouman Roy | 203.313.9147 marketplace@068magazine.com

068 Magazine is a publication of Colabella Media LLC. ©2023. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

www.068magazine.com POWERED BY

EVENT CALENDAR BY

This Issue’s

Feature Writers Carin Weisman Carin Weisman is an award-winning communications professional and author of numerous works, including the book #morninghaiku: a simple practice to inspire your every day. In this issue, Carin spoke with several health and fitness professionals in the area to gain a new perspective on New Year’s Resolutions. Her story can be found on page #38.

Johanna Dodd Jo Dodd is a British-born science educator, currently working in Ridgefield Public Schools. She has a more than a passing interest in the chemistry of food as well as a passion for the communication of scientific ideas, so was delighted to be asked to bring both things together in the first Culinary Chemist column for 068. Her guilty pleasure is watching The Great British Baking Show, so it’s quite embarrassing her own sourdough actually failed. Jo takes a look at the science of sourdough on page #28.

Gerri Lewis Gerri Lewis is a freelance writer who spent the early years of her career as feature writer and colunmist. Her work has appeared in Reader’s Digest and various airline publications. Her accolades include feature writing awards from the New England Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. On page #42, Gerri reports on the recent art installations at Danbury Fair Mall.

Roger Garbow Roger Garbow is the founder of Full Throttle Marketing, a Connecticut-based automotive marketing and PR firm. A member of the International Motor Press Association, he’s a contributing writer to numerous outlets including Road & Tracks and the DRIVE.com. Roger has driven some incredible vehicles.but he prefers lightweight sportscars with three pedals. On page #48, Roger offers tips and advice for buying a new car.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 11

Old Ridgefield

by Jack Sanders

School’s in Session One-Room Schoolhouses in Ridgefield

F

Branchville School, shown around 1910, was built in the 1870s. Little used today, its future is currently being debated.

ew institutions of America’s history have been as revered, romanticized, and fantasized as has “the little red schoolhouse.”

Some historians say the old one-room schools instilled a solid education and good morals.

Others maintain they were torture chambers that turned off countless youngsters on education.

For better or worse, Ridgefield was operating as many as 15 schoolhouses in the 1800’s. Seven of those still stand today.

Ridgefield’s first “school” was the unheated Meeting House, built around 1712, that was also the church and town hall. By 1721 the settlers spent eight pounds for a schoolhouse, probably with a fireplace, at Main Street and Branchville

Road. As Ridgefield’s population increased, so did the need for schools. By the 1750s, schoolhouses existed in the Limestone, Ridgebury, Bennett’s Farm, Florida, and West Lane neighborhoods.

In 1767, Connecticut allowed towns to create “school district committees,” powerful minischool boards that managed each schoolhouse and levied taxes to support them. However, committees worked under few rules and little oversight, resulting in schools of widely varying quality. Some committees hired teenage teachers with no training and little talent at the smallest salaries possible. While other committees sought out good teachers, even those usually had only an eighth-grade education. Despite this, they were

143 pupils posed outside the Center School around 1913. The four-room building was seriously overcrowded — some children had classes in the town hall and the firehouse.

12 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Above, the last Farmingville schoolhouse was a gift of Connecticut Gov. George Lounsbury, who lived at The Hickories. Below, Delia St. John, a teacher at the previous Farmingville schoolhouse, painted her school in 1897.

Bottom, Farmingville School was moved around 1952 to New York and turned into a noted photographer’s studio.

Above, Flat Rock School on Route 33, Wilton Road West, was a rather spare and bleak building in the 1890s when this picture was taken. Inset, Florida School, a rare brick schoolhouse, also taught children from nearby Redding.

Top left, the Whipstick School, became the wing of a house in 1915. From 1932 to 1942, it was the home and studio of painter Charles Sheeler. Top right, shown here around 1910, the Whipstick school had two front doors to keep the sexes apart. Above, Flat Rock was renovated in the early 1900s and got a vestibule with bell and belfry. The school closed in 1915 and may still exist as a farm outbuilding that’s been converted to a house on St. Johns Road.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 13

Old Ridgefield

Teacher Anna Claus — owner of that Chevrolet — took this picture of South Ridgebury School and its 11 pupils in 1929, its last year of operation.

The relocated South Ridgebury School, now a house at 399 Ridgebury Road, overlooks hundreds of acres of preserved fields, pastures, and woods.

Left, West Lane School is the only old schoolhouse that was depicted on a commercial postcard. This view was photographed, colorized and lithographed in Germany around 1905. Below, no smiles graced the faces of these West Mountain School students, photographed around 1905 with their stern-looking teacher, Jeremiah Reagan.

14 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

put in charge of 30 or 40 kids, aged 4 to 16, enclosed in one room for six hours a day.

Reluctant spending was perhaps understandable; most parents were subsistence farmers, with little cash to give to the school tax collector. However, it could make student life miserable. Their schoolhouses were often poorly built and minimally maintained, leaky from above and drafty from below. Early seats were benches with no backs, and so high off the floor that younger children legs dangled uncomfortably. Fireplaces or stoves would overheat nearby children and leave those farther away shivering. Lighting was poor on cloudy days and too bright on sunny ones.

Before 1850, many schools even lacked an outhouse!

Add to this the not-uncommon possibility of having a teacher who was downright incompetent, and unable to maintain order, much less teach. Worse, some were borderline sadists, happy to whip a child for the slightest infraction.

Despite many shortcomings, these “shacks” helped produce citizens who turned a struggling new nation into a world leader in industry, finance, farming, education, and the arts. Ridgefield’s schools had their share of illustrious alumni including three Goodriches: Samuel (“Peter Parley”), author of over 150 books; Charles, whose American history textbook was standard classroom fare for decades; and Abigail, among the nation’s first female magazine editors and publishers.

Other luminaries included Cyrus Northrop, pioneering president of the University of Minnesota; Phineas and George Lounsbury, Connecticut governors; Frederic Fayerweather, a Tiffany designer; and U.S. congressman Jeremiah Donovan.

Four were alumni of West Lane, often called “the Peter Parley Schoolhouse” or “the Little Red Schoolhouse,” at West Lane and South Salem Roads. West Lane School closed in 1915 when several schools consolidated into Benjamin Franklin Grammar School on East Ridge (now the Venus Office Building). The Ridgefield Garden Club took over the schoolhouse, eventually turning it into a museum of early education. Today, the Ridgefield Historical Society operates the museum, open the last

Old Ridgefield

A Morning in a One Room Schoolhouse

by Sally Sanders

V

isits to the West Lane District/Peter Parley Schoolhouse have given Ridgefield students a taste of the 19th Century, thanks to three dedicated teachers. Named for America’s first popular children’s textbook author, the school is now a museum maintained by the Ridgefield Historical Society. (Peter Parley was the pen name of Samuel G. Goodrich (17931860) who studied at West Lane.)

Dr. Darla Shaw, Barbara Kaplan, and B.G. Brown, all retired educators, become Mistress Shaw, Mistress Kaplan, and Mistress Brown as they school visiting classes in the ways of early 19th Century scholars, introducing the children to the concepts of recitation, elocution, cyphering, history, and geography.

In the course of two hours, the “school marms” explained how the school was organized, the chores performed by students, what disciplinary measures were common, and even what children played at recess.

For young visitors, the morning full of activities demonstrated how education in the 1700’s and 1800’s differs from today and why. With this totally hands-on/integrated approach, the hope is that students will better retain the concepts and be able to apply this learning to other historical projects.

Scotland School was purchased and moved a mile south on North Salem Rd. where it still stands today,

16 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Students posed in 1910 in front of the Scotland schoolhouse. Closed in 1926, the building became a shed at the town poorhouse, but now is a small home.

A map of Ridgefield by F.W. Beers shows the 14 school districts in use in 1867, each with its own schoolhouse.

Sunday of the month May through October.

Five other schoolhouses exist with their former role largely hidden. Closed in 1925, Limestone School is now a house at 411 Danbury Road, just north of Limestone Service Station.

West Mountain, shuttered in 1929, became a laundry on a big estate, but was eventually converted into a house at 155 West Mountain Road.

Also residentially re-purposed, South Ridgebury School originally stood on Ridgebury Road just south of Ned’s Mountain Road but was moved southerly and opposite Old Stagecoach Road. Although it’s the smallest house in the neighborhood, it may have the best view.

Shut down in 1926, Scotland School was hauled a mile south and turned into the little yellow house at 335 North Salem Road by alumnus Doug Main. Scotland’s bell, mounted atop a post, is displayed nearby.

A mile farther south is the Titicus schoolhouse at 71 North Salem Road, which still used outhouses when it closed in 1939.

Initially a one-room school, Titicus got a second room around 1891 and a third in 1926. It’s now the American Legion post.

Farmingville schoolhouse, last used in 1937, was sold 15 years later to noted photographer Alexander Alland to use as his studio. Alland had it trucked to his North Salem, N.Y. house, where it stands today.

Whipstick schoolhouse at Whipstick and

Nod Roads, closed in 1915, became part of a house where famous American artist Charles Sheeler lived and worked. Museums today display paintings he created there. Tragically, the house was destroyed in 2001 to make way for a “mini-mansion.”

Center School, serving the core of the village, went through many buildings and locations. The last — four-rooms in two stories built in 1884 on Bailey Avenue — became the town’s first high school in 1915. In 1926, it reverted to a primary school after the high school moved to East Ridge. It remained a primary school until 1955 when Veterans Park replaced it. Its site is now a parking lot.

Also gone are Bell School — the only schoolhouse with a bell in the 1840s — on lower Main Street, a victim of arson; Florida at Florida Hill and Florida Roads, a rare brick schoolhouse; short-lived North Ridgebury; Bennett’s Farm; and Flat Rock, which may still exist as a farm outbuilding-turned house on St. Johns Road.

Which leaves the 1870s Branchville school on Old Branchville Road, empty since 1939.

The decaying landmark is still owned by the town. At this writing, the historical society hoped to assume its management, but it was unclear just how the building would be used and how much its preservation would cost.

Jack Sanders is the author of a dozen books focusing on Ridgefield history, including “School Days,” which describes early schools and schooling in Ridgefield.

•

Have You Met?

by Julia Bruce

Megan Megan 18 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Have You Met?

Ridgefield Running Company held several community runs this past summer with The Prospector Theater to make strides toward a more active and inclusive community.

M

egan Searfoss is certainly a familiar face around town – you can find her helping customers in her Main Street store, Ridgefield Running Company; encouraging participants at the starting line of Run Like a Mother; or leading a group run on a Saturday morning. Searfoss, who’s store was recently voted Best Running Store in America, wants people to know that she’s here to stay.

“I’m in this for the long run,” she says. “I love the “long run” and what it can do for my fitness, but I’m also committed to being in this town as a contributor, a community person, and a retailer for the long run.”

Searfoss, who also owns Darien Running Company, is no stranger to long runs. She began her own running journey when her sister challenged her to train for a race – a

marathon no less. Since then, Searfoss has become a competitive athlete, having completed over 20 marathons, 9 Ironman distance events – including the Ironman World Championships, and countless other races.

While she excels at the long-distance races, she also loves introducing and encouraging people to take their own first steps to move forward.

“What I love about my business is that we’re here for the health aspect. Everyone who walks in our store wants to move forward in some shape or form,” says Searfoss.

“Forward Together” is the main motto of Ridgefield and Darien Running Stores, as symbolized by the store’s logo the triskelion.

It is a Celtic symbol dating back to Neolithic times and appears to have three legs that are in motion. The symbol represents movement and

Megan and her team take the time to sit down and really understand and support their customers’ needs.

is believed to embody a tale of forward motion in order to reach life understanding. Searfoss knows the importance of moving forward - in a literal sense, move your body – and in the figurative sense, don’t get stuck. “You can’t go anywhere today and not know that moving is good for you,” she says.

Searfoss is passionate about encouraging all people, but especially mothers, to make health and movement a part of their daily lives. Her Run Like a Mother race offers training and support to women looking to conquer their first 5K race - either in person or virtually. “Taking the time for yourself, leaving your phone behind, and just being out there and having your heartrate beating quicker than it was before, is priceless,” says Searfoss.

Another program aimed toward getting

nSearf ss She’s Here for the Long Run

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 19

Have You Met

RRC and DDC’s invlovment with Kicks for Kids and the Bridgeport Field of Dreams Foundation helps provide shoes to young athlese in need throughout the Fairfield County Insterscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC).

people moving is RRC’s Frozen Feet Challenge, which launches in early January and challenges people to get outside to run or walk a mile outside every day for six weeks. “It gets people out there and committed to moving every day,” Searfoss says. “We’ve had over 1500 people sign up for this program and many of them continue with their moving streak.”

Searfoss and RRC’s most recent collaboration was with the Prospector Theater this past summer. RRC partnered with On Shoes and put together a running program, hosted three runs for the Prospects, and culminated with a “Reel Run” complete with a finish line arch and medals. “To share that feeling of ‘I can do this’ with the Prospects was great,” says Searfoss. “My team and I support anything that helps people find their forward.”

Another example of encouraging moving forward is RRC and DRC’s involvement with Kicks for Kids and the Bridgeport Field of Dreams Foundation. In 2021, Jeremy Susi and Mina Rasmussen, two coaches from Bassicks High School in Danbury, contacted Searfoss to see if she had any leftover sneakers they could buy to outfit their newly formed cross-country team. They had only 13 members but many of them didn’t own running shoes. “We

20 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

decided to fit these kids with brand new sneakers and spikes,” says Searfoss. “We immediately saw the magic of these kids and their investment in themselves to run.”

After this successful first event, Searfoss and her team realized that there were a lot of other students in the area who could benefit from the Kicks for Kids program.

“Now I include a postcard in every FCIAC coach’s packet that they can give to a student who might need assistance in getting new shoes,” says Searfoss. Ridgefield and Darien Running are committed to getting kids into properly fitting shoes and allowing them to compete on an even track with other athletes. “It’s really very rewarding to feel like we’re making a difference,” says Searfoss.

This spring, Searfoss and RRC will be the title sponsor for ArtFul Kicks Public Art Event, which will raise money through the auction of artist-designed fiberglass sneakers that will be displayed around town.

The kick-off event will coincide with the Run Like A Mother race in Ballard Park on May 12th. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Artful Visual Arts Initiative and Kicks for Kids. “Supporting causes like Kicks for Kids – getting shoes to athletes who need them – represents everything I believe in,” says Searfoss.

•

Art In The Spotlight

by Kate Perry

The Art of

Sculpture John BonSignore Pieces Capture Movement and Balance

R

edding sculptor John BonSignore is a skilled welder and artisan who creates soaring stainless-steel figures and formations that evoke graceful movement and shimmering flow. His latest commission from this aptly named Toe Dancer series is a piece called “The Mentor.”

It was recently installed in Danbury after being commissioned by CityCenter Danbury, the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, and BRT General Corporation.

BonSignore first found inspiration for his Toe Dancer work as a child when he attended his cousin’s ballet recitals and watched the dancers’ elegant moves. “She never referred to it as ballet; she would call it toe-dancing. The name stuck with me,” says BonSignore. “The work is about movement and motion and rhythm. It’s about taking any pose from a Celtic dancer, ballet, skating, and taking any split second of any pose and freezing it, and then capturing the internal structure of what the movement is through line.”

For each piece, BonSignore begins with a line drawing. He heats and bends stainless rounded stock to form the long limbs, fabricating the show of movement he wishes to acquire, while the heads are cast using his wax molds at a foundry.

Then, he welds all the pieces together, finishing with a clean central joint that is his signature for each sculpture. He says in his artist’s statement, “Stainless steel is my medium of choice, for its

22 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

infinite durability, which enhances a moment of movement and gesture in each pose; smooth, precise, with an elegant conclusion of continuous flow.” The Toe Dancer sculptures are impressive in stature; most are over eight feet tall and many reach more than ten feet.

Another of BonSignore’s sculptures, titled “Mori Dancer,” which means “forest dancer” in Japanese, was recently installed in downtown Concord, New Hampshire, after being commissioned by the Capitol Center for the Arts. His work has also been exhibited across the country and internationally, as well as commissioned for public art and private collections throughout the area.

Toe Dancer is one of BonSignore’s two lines of work. His other medium is stone, and he has created sculptures with carefully selected rocks that are piled, balanced, and juxtaposed on one another using an innovative structural technique he designed. “The individual stones are chosen for their shape, character, and for the way in which they contribute to the sculptural form as a whole.

While these separate components are visible upon closer examination, distance presents the viewer with the image of a single, graceful, weightless whole,” writes BonSignore. He has created several styles with his stonework, including whimsical nudes, interior and exterior suspended sculptures, and wall art. Over the last couple years, he has

Art In The Spotlight Left, BonSignore’s stone creations give the illusion of a single, graceful, and weightless whole. This page, BonSignore’s Toe Dancer series was inspired by ballet recitals he attended as a child.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 23

Art In The Spotlight started incorporating stones into his Toe Dancer pieces to combine his two métiers.

BonSignore grew up in Redding, and his family has been in town for several generations. He began creating and constructing as soon as he could, and his parents encouraged his interest in the arts.

He was also motivated by his elders. “My grandmother, Helen, always showed me through her fine crafts that things had to be done correctly and to the best of one’s ability, or they would have to be done over.

This set the tone for my work,” he says.

After high school, he attended the Shintaro Akatsu School of Design at the University of Bridgeport, earning a degree in Industrial Design. He left the area for graduate studies in ceramics and sculpture at Arizona State University, but Redding soon Often whimsical in nature, BonSignore uses long fluid lines to mimic the appearance of movement in his steel sculptures.

24 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Art In The Spotlight

Left, The Mentor, which was recently installed in Danbury. Above, Dancing on Water.

called him back.

“I lived out west for a while, in Arizona, and I realized I missed the seasons.

I also realized that Redding was the most lush place I’d ever been, with all the trees and green. And with the town being eighty percent watershed, land is protected here,” says BonSignore. Once he returned, he attended the University of Bridgeport again, this time to earn a master’s degree in sculpture and education, and began building a house down the road from his family’s property in Redding.

He designed and constructed his home himself over several decades, using locally milled wood that casts warm tones throughout. He built his fireplace with stones from his father’s property as well as his own, which sits on the Saugatuck River.

This intensive masonry work sparked his interest in stone sculpture. Now, his stone works and Toe Dancer pieces, including his first dancer, fill his property.

BonSignore has created more than four hundred sculptures throughout his prolific career. Each of his pieces tell a story, some of nature and balance, and others of grace and movement. His work is in great company in Redding among the other talented artists and contemplative thinkers, offering distinctive, striking masterpieces for our community to experience and admire.

•

26 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Culinary Chemist

by Johanna Dodd

Sourdou The Science of

SOURDOUGH

W

inter is made for spending quality time in the kitchen baking, and what could make your house smell more like home than bread?

Sourdough bread, a popular choice for the home baker, is unique in that it doesn’t require yeast but instead uses a starter - which is a live culture of fresh flour and water.

Once combined, the culture will begin to ferment and cultivate the natural yeasts in the air. Yeasts and bacteria from the atmosphere are unique to the house that’s baking it; the flavours and textures produced by their fermentation processes make your home-made loaf specific to you. A portion of the starter is added to the bread dough. These friendly microbes digest carbohydrates in the flour, releasing gases for rising and creating the flavorful by-products that make sourdough bread delicious. The microbes are also a useful prebiotic for our own gut bacteria, and may even reduce some IBS and similar gut symptoms experienced with other bread products.

If, like me, you have struggled to make your own, the next best thing is buying it from your local bakery. I visited with Ross Bread’s head baker Kellie Hamlin to ask her about making their regularly sold-out sourdough bread.

Tell me about your sourdough.

We have three starters here, a rye for the caraway rye bread,

28 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

a miche which is 100% whole wheat, and an all-purpose, which is the biggest one and is about thirteen years old.

Being older means it has a lot more yeasts in it than you might have at home making it for the first time, and we feed them every night with flour and water, so they continue to grow. Our sourdough bread we make in one shift. We used to do it overnight, leaving the dough in the fridge to ferment and rise at a slower pace, but we adjusted the recipe and timing about three years ago, adding more starter, cutting the production time to between three and four hours which works really well. It’s now one of the quicker breads we have, and one of the easiest. I do like to make it at home myself.

What is the best thing about sourdough?

I personally love the sour taste and great crust. I have noticed that if you don’t use a sourdough starter, it’s harder to get such a crispy, crunchy crust. Sourdough is great for the gut too.

What one recommendation would you have for home bakers?

Patience! It takes a long time to learn the craft. Baking is unforgiving, so having patience is the most important thing.

•

Culinary Chemist

ugh Above left, Kellie Hamlin, Head Baker at Ross’ Bread is very enthusiastic about her sourdough.

Also pictured are various other offerings available at Ross.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 29

Stress Don’t

by Dee Dee Colabella

I

’m so stressed! While this is a common refrain these days, reducing stress is important to one’s overall health. Built up tension can manifest into physical symptoms like hypertension, heart issues, disrupted sleep, and negatively affect your quality of life. Stress can be either chronic or acute. Chronic stress occurs when you find yourself in a constant state of tension, and this can arise from challenges that cannot be overcome easily and take long periods of time to resolve. Activities such as yoga, meditation, and patterned breathing all work to calm the nervous system and help when dealing with long-term stress. (See page 40 for tips on patterned breathing.) If you are finding it difficult to deal with chronic stress, you should seek help from a medical or mental

32 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

health professional.

Alternatively, acute stress is more short-term. This is the type of stress we most often encounter in day-to-day life, for example traffic causing you to be late for an appointment.

Acute stress can also be handled by calming practices, or you can try a different direction. Here are some activities that will increase your heart rate, release endorphins, exhaust your mind and body, and enable you to let go of built-up tension and emotions.

Smash into Relaxation “Smash Rooms” are believed to have originated in Japan in the early 2000’s.

While some people partake as a form of entertainment, they can also be an effective method for acute stress release. Also called “wreck rooms,”

s January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 33

they have risen in popularity. Facilities like Smash Room CT, LLC in Watertown have controlled rooms set up set up to let the participants break, smash, and pulverize furniture, electronics, and other random items. Tools are available to assist in the demolition. When you enter one of these rooms, there are lots of rules, waivers to sign and protective apparel to help keep the participants safe while they throw, hit, and smash.

Participants experience a wide rage of emotions from exhileration to exhaustion, but hopefully they let go of everything that was on their mind before they entered.

“Don’t break that, don’t hit that, be careful!!”

All these norms fly across the room and are “smashed” once the first object is thrown.

People often find themselves bonded with their fellow smashers and report a clear head - creating the ability to accept new ideas. Many say that after participating in a smash room, they have the best night sleep they have had in a long time.

34 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Scream like you mean it A more primordial type of stress release can be found in Scream Therapy. Screaming your heart out or your head off can be used to help release emotions or trauma.

This method of therapy, developed by Dr. Arthur Janov in the 1960s, was based on the concept that highly expressive activities like crying, screaming, or making sounds could help patients recover.

Scream therapy can be used to release pent up emotions and tension from acute or chronic stress. The effects are immediate, but not long lasting, so should be used together with other techniques for chronic stress. The immediate benefits include the removal of mental blocks, a feeling of empowerment, and increased feelings of being grounded. It can also help people to connect physically to emotions that they have not been able to face.

One suggestion if you feel like you just need to scream it out: don’t hold back.

Initially, you might feel self-conscious, but

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KASJATO

Smash rooms can be a fun activity to do with friends, but also provide the benefit of reducing acute stress. Places like Smash Room CT, LLC, have many precautions in place to keep participants safe.

Scream therapy might feel awkward at first, but research indicates it can release deeply stored emotions and trauma.

with practice, you can get more comfortable.

At first try screaming into a pillow, you can always progress to screaming in your car or outside. Strive to let go of all inhibitions to make the most of your scream. Once you can identify your emotions and feel a connection to what has been creating stress or tension in your life and your body, you are in a better position to help yourself with the underlying issues.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHEVTSOVY

HITT, Punch and Relax Everyone knows that exercising has many health benefits - including increased endurance, improved heart health and strength, as well as decreased depression and anxiety.

Evidence shows that specific exercises such as high intensity interval training (HIIT) can have immediate results for acute stress. HIIT incorporates a series of intense body weight exercises - like the dreaded burpee - interspersed with short rest periods.

Boxing and kickboxing are other forms of interval training that can have the same benefits. In both of these activities, you are constantly taking your heartrate and activity level very high and then bringing it back down. It is thought that alternating betweeen these two extremes helps decrease anxiety and stress.

Don’t Stress it When deciding how to handle your stress, the most important thing is to find something that works for you. Don’t try to do something just because someone else says, “do this.” Experiment with several techniques until you find something you can incorporate into your life. The more energy you pour into the activity, the bigger the feeling of relief. Again, if you feel that your level of stress is more than you can deal with on your own, you should seek out professional assistance.

More information on the definitions of stress, can be found in Elizabeth Scott, PhD’s medically

36 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Studies have shown the HIIT workouts, such as boxing, relieve built up stress and tension.

Exhausting oneself physically often leaves behind a clearer head and calmer being.

by Carin L. Weisman

T

he gyms are bursting with eager patrons, the produce aisles are noticeably empty, workout gear flies off the shelves….it must be January 2nd, when New Year’s resolutions begin with unwavering enthusiasm! Unfortunately, when the parties are over, the weather is dreary, and the holiday bills come in (no wonder “Blue Monday” falls on January 15th!), the pendulum often shifts back to its pre-resolution level. To help you stay well in January and beyond, we asked local well-being experts for their best tips and advice. Here’s what they had to say.

Rena Bruckman is co-owner of Thrive Psychotherapy & Nutrition, an outpatient practice specializing in eating disorder treatment. She finds New Year’s resolutions often fraught with “shoulds,” pressure to make drastic changes, and the cultural obsession of being at a lower weight, regardless of present health status. “I focus on adding, not omitting,” says Bruckman. She recommends experimenting with flavor using new spices, trying different cultural cuisines, and embracing new food experiences. “Tune into what you are craving as well as your hunger and fullness cues, so you can let yourself enjoy food when you are hungry and stop when you are full.”

What does Rena do? “I cook foods, I prepare foods, I grow foods, I enjoy eating foods with health – of ourselves and our planet – in mind. I focus on what I’m in the mood for. Spanakopita

38 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

with a big Greek salad and warm pita bread are a currently on my menu.”

Wendy Boscia is a local favorite, with deep community roots. She teaches meditation, yoga, and well-being retreats at Basil Yoga, where she helps clients tune out the external pressures and tune in alignment with something deeper. “I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions,” Boscia says, “I encourage clients to find and stick with a daily practice. It could be meditation, yoga, nature walks, breathwork. It doesn’t have to be anything big, simply a ritual to cultivate something greater.”

What does Wendy do? “I start each morning with prayer and use it as an opportunity to step into the present moment, quiet the storytelling part of my mind, and create an intention to guide my day because I believe our intentions become our actions.”

Niro Feliciano LCSW is an anxiety specialist, author, and frequent Today Show guest who has been practicing in the 068 for 18 years. Pointing out that more than 80% of resolutions fail, Feliciano suggests setting intentions, which are more sustainable. “We often work backward, starting with actions. I encourage people to begin with identity: Who is the person you want to be?

Once you know that, you can choose which habits support your growth and which to eliminate.”

She recommends people write their motivational statements on sticky notes and strategically place

Rena Bruckman, co-owner of Thrive Psychotherapy & Nutrition, suggests adding a variety of fresh foods to your diet, as well as experimenting with new spices, cuisines, and recipes to keep it interesting.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL HENDERSON OF 47 MOMENTES

Yoga instructor Wendy Boscia uses meditation and prayer to turn inward and set intentions for her day.

Niro Feliciano, LCSW, advises people to move away from making resolutions. Instead, choose habits that support your growth toward the person you want to become..

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 39

Gail Fennell, PT of CT Scoliosis and Spine, says that stretching and small movement goals are a great way to start your day.

perspective on New Year’s resolutions is to not make any. “Don’t wait for a certain time of year to start - just start,” says Karp.

“Health is not about looking a certain way, it’s about moving better and feeling better.”

Karp recommends finding a form of physical activity that brings joy and incorporates an element of play. “Clients come to my gym for the training and stick with it for the community and camaraderie,” he said. “We Ari Karp owns Steel Fitness, a small-group support and motivate each other - and have personal training facility in Ridgefield. His fun while doing it.”

What does Ari do? “In addition to strength training, Try it now: I ensure I get enough sleep, which is good for recovery.

Sleep is one of the biggest things the science world is ll 5 experts stressed the importance of breath work.

Here’s a simple practice you can do anywhere, anytalking about. Working out time, to find a sense of calm. is the stimulus to get things ● going, but knowing when to n Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4. rest is most important.” ●n Hold your breath for a count of 4. them in high-visibility areas for a regular reminder of what you are working toward.

What does Niro do? “What I need more than anything, especially as a working mom with 4 kids ages 10 and up is to protect my mental bandwidth. For me, that comes in the form of prayer, meditation, and silence, which I make time for every day.”

The Box Breath

A

●n Breathe out through your mouth for a count of 4. ●n Hold your breath for a count of 4.

Repeat.

40 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Gail Fennell PT is celebrating her 10th year owning CT Scoliosis and Spine Rehab in Ridgefield.

At Steel Fitness, trainer Ari Karp tells his clients to find a physical activity they enjoy and that working out with friends is a great way to stay motivated.

She encourages people to use the New Year as a time to stop, reassess, set goals, and create a plan. “I help people who are in pain, which prevents them from going about their daily tasks,” says Fennell. “I encourage people to start with small, realistic movement goals they can incorporate into their every day.” Fennell recognizes that sticking with exercise can be a challenge, so she suggests creating a checklist and recruiting a friend.

What does Gail do? “Something I do every day for my health is what animals do instinctively: stretch. ‘Snooze button stretches’ is what I call my simple morning wake-up routine that pairs light stretches targeting specific muscles with deep breathing, which is vital to all of our systems.”

•

Than An

Empty Space

by Gerri Lewis

L

ong before shop doors open at Danbury Fair Mall, the center is abuzz. Mall walkers get in their exercise, coffee klatches meet daily to chat over a cuppa’, hybrid workers take advantage of the internet friendly sleek workspaces, and caregivers share a moment of much needed comraderie as the little ones enjoy the playground - all gathering in a community committed to culture and togetherness.

In a retail-challenged atmosphere of reduced traffic and closed stores, shopping complexes across America have been forced to reinvent themselves. Owners of the Danbury Fair Mall, however, had already been on the cutting edge of creative thinking, always searching for new and exciting ways to keep their visitors engaged.

Inspired by the post-pandemic recovery, efforts were upped to showcase the arts with the goal of lifting spirits and building confidence to start anew. In 2022, they collaborated with the Cultural Alliance of

Western Connecticut (CAWC) and invested approximately $90,000 to commission a large format wall mural that was created on site by Los Angeles based artist Kiptoe. The thinking behind this was - why leave the vast space left empty by recently vacated Lord and Taylor looking like a big blank wall? Instead, they turned a negative into a positive by using the 1,800 square foot floor to ceiling mural to become part of a program entitled Re-Emergence and Awakening. By incorporating a Movable Mural Project, curated by the CAWC and Art in Common, weekly “art on the mall” talks and local talent were featured. The mural, which is worthy of spending time with, is a powerful and timely piece and can still be seen in the Apple wing on Level Two of the center.

Art Exhibits at the Danbury Fair Mall 42 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

During its creation, people came just to sit and watch the towering mural unfold, often engaging with the artist as well as total strangers who were equally enthralled with the process and the message the piece would deliver. This is just one of the many pop-up art shows, galas, and events that draws people to the retail center for reasons beyond just shopping.

General Manager Maura Ruby says that they wanted to do what they have always done, which was to pay homage to the historical fairgrounds that once drew hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. “The fair always brought people together and we try to continue that theme,” says Ruby.

The Danbury Fair Mall was built on the 142-acre site of the Great Danbury State Fair which started as an agricultural fair in 1891 and grew to a popular yearly event.

Traffic would be backed up for hours between Ridgefield and Danbury as thousands of people attended. When it finally closed in 1981, it was estimated that 400,000 people visited that year alone.

When the retail center opened its doors in 1986, owners gave a nod to the history with strategically placed memorabilia and by adding a carousel, characteristic of a fair and a reminder that the property was always intended as a place to bring people together.

Macerich, current owner of the Danbury Fair Mall, continues to champion the arts and nonprofits. For example, tossing a coin into the fountain to make a wish—that goes to Habitat for Humanity.

While the mall may be 98% filled, Ruby says they continue to focus on what they have done from the very beginning 38 years ago developing and cultivating their relationships, especially in the arts. They wanted people to feel “bright” about what was happening.

Furthermore, because the mall is also about retail, she adds that they like to find “cool innovative uses” for the empty spaces awaiting tenants. This includes pop up venues for entrepreneurial, local, and home-grown businesses, giving them space in a high visibility space. Even during the early days when mall life was new, local craftsmen were invited to display their creations. Ruby says this has always been a boost for customers who enjoy “creative concepts from balloon art, local bakeries, handmade jewelry and craft concepts typically showcased at community fairs.”

Over the past two years there have been weekly movable art exhibits with nightly discussion groups drawing people of all ages where artists could showcase their work and talk about what got them into the artistic lane. If you visited the mall last summer you would have witnessed firsthand the ongoing collaboration with Western Connecticut State University where in conjunction with the CAWC, prime local gallery space was awarded at no charge to host the opening reception and promotion of their Human Connection art exhibit.

“We want to continue the legacy of being a place for families to gather, experience community, and build commerce,” Ruby says.

•

PARTNERSHIP

Million Dollar Quartet:

Time

Capsule M Carl Perkins (with Charlie Underwood’s guitar), Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash at Sun Studios on December 4, 1956.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley at Sun Studios on December 4, 1956.

46 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

illion Dollar Quartet, the Broadway musical inspired by the true story, opens at ACT of CT on February 22nd. Like all ACT of CT shows, audiences can expect another Broadway-caliber production. The Tony Award-nominated Million Dollar Quartet brings a defining moment in music history to life and has become a theatrical sensation worldwide, blending storytelling, rock ‘n’ roll classics, and a star-studded ensemble cast, making it a must-see for theatergoers and music enthusiasts alike.

Million Dollar Quartet is centered around a legendary jam session that occurred on December 4, 1956 at Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together for what would become one of the greatest impromptu meetings of musical giants in rock ‘n’ roll history.

The heart of the show is the music, showcasing classic hits like “Blue Suede

Shoes,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” “I Walk the Line”, and “Folsom Prison Blues.” But beyond the music, the show delves deep into the personalities and dynamics of these music legends: the rivalry between Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley’s magnetic presence, and Johnny Cash’s calm wisdom. The show is not just a tribute to these legends but also a reminder of the enduring influence of their music, which continues to inspire generations.

Million Dollar Quartet is a rare gem that offers a glimpse into an iconic moment in time and celebrates the enduring power of rock ‘n’ roll. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of these music icons or a newcomer looking for a remarkable theater experience, Million Dollar Quartet at ACT of CT promises to be an unforgettable production that relives the magic of one chance and impromptu meetup and the unifying power of music.

Million Dollar Quartet runs from Feb 22 - Mar 17 at ACT of CT in Ridgefield.

•

Wheeling and

Dealing Dealing Deali D

48 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Dealing ingDealing

A

Words and photos by Roger Garbow

fter a home, cars are the most expensive purchases consumers make, with the average new car price over $48,000 and average monthly payments topping $725. With insurance and property taxes, your car (or cars) can eat a big chunk of your monthly budget. For those looking for a new car without breaking the bank, here are some buying tips and affordable new car options.

Need vs want Do you really need a new car? If you currently have a reliable late model car, you aren’t going to gain much with a new one. Safety, technology and fuel economy are no longer making massive leaps, so if the current one works fine, stick with it. If you have a lease that is nearing its end, look at the buyout cost, as often it can be less than the car is worth.

Planning ahead If you are set on getting a new vehicle, consider ordering ahead of time, choosing the exact model, color and options you want instead of settling for what’s on the dealer’s lot. You’ll often pay less as you aren’t stuck with costly options you don’t need.

Research Find the average transaction price for the vehicle so you don’t pay more that you should, and also have a realistic idea on how much discount you can expect. And don’t pay over sticker price. Ever. Dealers hold most of the cards in negotiations, but you have the ultimate power: walking away.

The new 2024 Buick Envista is a standout in style, performance, and best of all, affordability.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 49

Chevrolet’s redesigned 2024 Trax is roomier and better in every way. Yet it’s a serious bargain at a starting price of only $21,495.

Incentives Except on the hottest new models, discounted interest rates can be found.

Special offers may be available for existing customers or competitive vehicle owners. Also look to a credit union for lower loan rates and leftover models for discounted prices.

I spoke with Dan LaRusso, of Devan Acura in Norwalk who has been selling Acuras for three decades. More than half of his sales are to repeat customers or referrals.

His secret? Honesty and transparency. While some dealers tack on options, and charge exorbitant document fees, find a dealer and a salesperson that is looking for a long-term relationship. Dan’s tip to car buyers? Do your homework regarding specific models and options before going to the dealership.

And treat the salesperson like you want to be treated yourself. A smile and good attitude can help get a better deal.

Don’t buy more car than you need.

If you don’t need a full-size SUV, consider a smaller model or even a car. And stay away from big wheels and tires. They not only cost more, but the increased weight negatively impacts fuel economy, brake wear and ride quality. Plus, low profile tires make your wheels more vulnerable to pothole damage.

The redesigned 2024 Subaru Impreza delivers the reliability, affordability and safety Subaru owners expect, in a much improved AWD package.

50 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

The Nissan Z retains the good looks and RWD performance of its predecessors, and can still be had with a manual transmission.

52 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

To get you started, here are a few affordable new car options.

The 2024 Buick Envista (starting at only $23,495), and its GM stablemate, the Chevrolet Trax (starting at $21,495), are built on a new front-wheel drive platform featuring a peppy 1.2 liter turbocharged 3 -cylinder engine. I spent a week with both and was impressed with how good they are. Each has its own unique flavor and design language. The Buick is slightly larger overall and it’s rather stunning in person.

At first glance it looks like a scaled down Lamborghini Urus. Both the Buick and Chevy are well equipped, and in my test

vehicles, offered wireless CarPlay, heated seats and heated steering wheels. Both deliver 32 mpg highway and 30 mpg overall.

Handling, comfort and refinement rival much more expensive vehicles. If you think you need AWD for the winter months, a good set of winter or all-weather (not allseason) tires will turn either of these into a snowmobile.

Looking for an affordable AWD vehicle? The new Subaru Impreza hatchback starts at only $22,995 with standard AWD to deliver Subaru’s legendary all-weather performance. The new Impreza is completely redesigned

Ford’s redesigned 2024 Mustang offers a range of models and engines, including a fuel sipping high-performance turbocharged 4-cylinder. and has left its econobox roots behind.

The updated chassis is more solid, with better ride and handling, while the upscale interior is dramatically improved with better materials, comfortable seats, and an 11.6” touchscreen (on Sport and RS models). All Impreza models feature Subaru’s class-leading Eyesight safety suite and driver assist system.

The Impreza delivers up to 34 mpg highway.

Sports car enthusiasts can still find bargains. Nissan’s RWD Z coupe features 400 hp, a slick 6-speed manual transmission and sexy styling. With a starting price of just

$42,210, the Z is a bargain. The ride is far more comfortable than most competitors and since the Z is more of a GT than a hardcore sports car, you won’t face excessive dealer markups.

The redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang can be had with a 500 horsepower V8, but the entry level 2.3 liter turbo four pumps out 315 hp and 350 lb.-ft. The turbo coupe starts at just over $30k (convertible base price is $39,020) and can return up to 33 mpg highway, yet still deliver enough tire spinning fun to make anyone feel like a teenager.

•

The

Ridgefield Playhouse ARTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM O68 When did the Arts in Education Program start?

RP The Arts in Education program started back in 2004 when then Executive Director Allison Stockel had the vision to introduce students to the arts. Jodi Simon Stewart, the current (and first) Arts in Education Director, started running the program in 2013 and it has grown tremendously in that time. In 2022, when Jared Shahid and Ashley Paltauf took over as Managing Directors, they decided to spotlight the program with their ambitious 20 For 20 Campaign to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the program and raise $200,000 to offer our programming free of charge to all schools to celebrate this milestone.

Ridgefield Playhouse’s Arts in Education program is able to deliver curriculum-related programming in-person and virtually to students in the area.

56 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

they are studying in school to life in the areas of literacy, STEAM, history, and culture. The impact of a live performance on a young person can be life changing.

O68 About how many students have participated in these programs?

RP We will be reaching over 60 towns across CT and NY with our programming this school year. 20,000 students and teachers will attend our live shows at the Ridgefield Playhouse and then upwards of 50,000 more will watch our livestream and virtual options from their classrooms. In the 20 years that the program has been in existence, tens of thousands of students from all across the region have participated in our program!!

O68 What are the benefits of the program?

O68 What is the process for a school to apply?

RP Through a full roster of one hour, curriculum-related shows that we present both in-person and virtually, the Ridgefield Playhouse introduces tens of thousands of students to the arts each school year.

We partner with teachers to augment and complement what they are doing in the classroom, and bring many subjects that

RP As part of our 20 For 20 campaign to reach 20,000 students and teachers this school year for free, we launched a simple online application. The response was profound. We were inundated with requests and have been trying to accommodate as many as we can. Virtual and livestream options have been added as well – at the

by Julia Bruce

Students from Connecticut and New York, who might otherwise not have the opportunity to see a live theater performance, enjoy a day at Ridgefield Playhouse as a result of the Arts in Education program.

request of educators – so we can reach even more students with our free programming this school year. Teachers can go to the Arts in Education page on our website to get more information about our season: https:// ridgefieldplayhouse.org/about/arts-ineducation/.

O68 Where are you in the goal of $200,000 to reach 20,000 students?

RP We have surpassed our 20 For 20 goal both financially and in participation, which is incredibly exciting. It feels like our entire extended community rallied around this campaign. We launched in August on Bernie Williams Day, which raised $23,000 out of the gates. From there, the combination of pre-existing funders of the program, the Leir Foundation, individual donors, and an outpouring of support at our Fall Gala featuring Itzhak Perlman, yielded over $200,000. In total, we’ll reach more than 70,000 students both in person and virtually.

We could not have achieved this ambitious goal without our community’s support.

We greatly appreciate all who contributed to this campaign’s success. The 20 For 20 Campaign has really informed the future of the program. It’s become clear that the demand is exponentially bigger than we realized and because of that, our goal is to keep this program free in perpetuity. So that’s our current objective. We invite any and all to get involved and help seed this program for the future!

•

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 57

Foodies

What’s

Brewin’?

Nearby Breweries Worthy of Repeated Visits

O

ver the past decade-plus, the craft beer revolution has taken hold in Connecticut and the beer scene here is still — pun very much intended — hopping in Fairfield County. Here are three western Connecticut brewing destinations worth checking out, whether you’re a seasoned beer drinker, or can’t tell your IPAs from your stouts.

by Erik Ofgang

58 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Broken Symmetry 5 Depot Place Bethel 203-826-9907, brokensymmetrybrew.com Broken Symmetry is an amalgamation of founder and head brewer Christopher Sanzeni’s passions. “I spent a lifetime in the engineering world, working in semiconductors and aerospace. I have a love of fine art, of food, and of science: all of which brought me to the art of craft beer,” he says.

In 2018 those passions brought him to downtown Bethel when Broken Symmetry opened in a historic train station. “I want to do justice to the styles and honor the traditions of those who innovated

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF REDDING BEER COMPANY

Foodies

Redding Beer Company 7 Main Street, Redding

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WINTER CAPLANSON

203-587-9000, reddingbeer.com

O

pened by Jim Baulsir and his son Dave in 2017, the Redding Beer Co. is situated in the heart of Georgetown and is the

perfect destination for those beer lovers who are tired of all the hop-forward brews. “We’re a little bit different because we don’t have 26 different kinds of IPAs on tap,” Baulsir says. “We deal with American and European classic historic beer styles, which have been lacking on the American craft beer palette for a number

before me as I build my recipes,” he says. “Keeping history alive is apparent in my brews. We pride ourselves on serving a variety of styles, teaching guests about beer and expanding palates and exposure to the width and breadth of the beer world.” In addition to the everpopular hazy IPAs, you’ll often find offerings such as Belgian ales, saisons and stouts on tap.

Sanzeni and his staff also strive to bring people together through beer. “When you sit down with strangers over a meal and a pint, you can’t help but make personal connections in that shared experience,” he says. He adds, “Our historic building has always been a transportive place and we consider the 1800s train station to be the anchor that moors us.”

Broken Symmetry has a full kitchen and food has always been an important part of Sanzeni’s vision for the space. Executive Chef, Eric Genuario, recently took over the reins of the kitchen, and the Culinary Institute of America graduate has curated a menu of rotating cross-culture bites ranging from pierogies to burgers and cheesesteaks to patty melts and a jumbo pretzel that very much lives up to its name.

of years.”

You’ll find beloved but less common styles such as an Irish red stout or colonial style ales. Dave is particularly passionate about reviving old and either rare or entirely forgotten types of beer. One recent example is a beer called Menestheus Mild, an English mild-style beer inspired by the HMS Menestheus, a British naval ship that was converted into a floating brewery in World War II to supply fresh beer to soldiers serving in the Pacific.

The Redding Beer Co.’s space is also modeled after a United Kingdom-style pub with communal seating and an intimate feel.

While designing the brewery, the team didn’t follow the path of many breweries where the taproom is built in the corner of an industrial space as an afterthought. “We had a taproom and then we designed and built a brewery to go into the tap room,” Baulsir says.

Redding Beer Co. offers a variety of snacks including chips, soft pretzels, and on occasion individual-size pizzas from Zuppardi’s Apizza in West Haven. Visitors looking for something more substantial can bring in outside food including takeout from nearby restaurants in Georgetown.

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 59

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG LEMA

Foodies

Nod Hill Brewery 137 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield, 203-617-1191, nodhillbrewery.com In 2017 father and son duo Rob and David Kaye, along with David’s wife, Sarah, and brewer Kyle Acenowr opened Nod Hill Brewery. “We are beer lovers, brewers, hospitality veterans, and entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to bring world-class beer to a unique and under-served location,” David Kaye says. “We wanted to make the kind of beer we love to drink and create a place that was filled with good conversation, good food, and excellent live music.”

More than six years later, they’ve accomplished that and more. Nod Hill opened a vast outdoor beer garden “biergarten” in 2021 and added an event space to the indoor brewery taproom with an intimate music club feel. The brewery attracts visitors year-round with its welcoming vibes and high-quality beers. “We have one foot in the new school and one foot in tradition,” Kaye says. “We brew a great deal of hazy, hoppy modern beers, but we are also fascinated with brewing and serving Old World styles from Germany, England and Belgium — honoring traditions and sharing what is magical about the drinking experience in those cultures.”

Nod Hill has a house food truck run by Walrus Alley in Westport and called Walrus Outpost at Nod Hill. At the brewery Wednesday through Sunday, the truck features southern-style cooking and barbecue, as well European-inspired specialties that, Kaye says, “pair perfectly with our beer.” During special events in the warmer months, they often also feature a second rotating food truck.

•

60 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Is That A Thing?

The Chilling Benefits of

ColdPlunging

by Joey Macari

Immerse yourself in ancient healing philosophies reimagined through a contemporary spectrum at HealthX.

HealthX suggests two to three cold therapy sessions per week totaling 11 minutes to get the most benefits.

62 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

S

elf-care is the art of treating yourself as the VIP that you are. The love letters you give to yourself can be classic, like painting, meditation, or even a glass of wine before bed. Others may enjoy more unique approaches, such as goat yoga, earthing, even smash rooms where you can demolish stuff to let off steam (read about smash rooms on page 32). Ice baths can also be a cool (pun intended) form of self-care.

Cold plunging has been gaining traction in recent years—generating more than 500 million views on TikTok. While the practice may seem new, it actually dates back as far back as Ancient Rome. Often associated with athletes and fitness junkies, ice baths are making a splash in the broader wellness scene for their intriguing array of benefits, both physical and mental—just be careful not to turn yourself into a human popsicle!

Cold plunging has been shown to help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, improve circulation, and even boost your immune system—but they can also do wonders for the mind. The cold can help release endorphins, those feel-good chemicals and give your brain a refreshing jolt. Plus, the challenge of enduring the chill can build mental resilience. Though many people have taken to purchasing their own ice baths for this practice, Ridgefield has its own superior wellness sanctuary to get you started.

HealthX® (healthxco.com) emerged in response to the necessity for a local health and wellness hub, aiming to introduce innovative approaches to healing within the 068 community. Owner Kacey James formed the idea after struggling with multiple health issues and not getting the desired results from traditional medicine. After turning to

new modalities such as ice baths, saunas, red light therapy and cryotherapy and seeing positive results, he worked with leaders in alternative and holistic medicine to make these incredible tools accessible in his community.

“Each year we have helped thousands of clients achieve their health goals, overcome health struggles, and propel professional athletes to reach their full potential, all centrally located on beautiful Main Street in Ridgefield,” says James. Distinguished by its superior technology such as the first whole body cryotherapy chamber on the east coast that does not utilize harmful nitrogen gasses, the most effective infrared saunas, and the world’s only ice bath that forms its own ice and utilizes ozone, the safest and strongest natural water disinfectant available, clients have embraced the unparalleled results and supportive wellness community at HealthX®.

James and his team offer superior and expert guidance to those wanting to experience cold plunging for the first time.

“Ice baths are where mental and physical fortitude meet,” James says. His biggest piece of advice? Ease into it. “The first 60 seconds of cold exposure will inevitably be the hardest when the body is working through its natural reactions to the cold, but once those 60 seconds have passed, the body is better able to settle into the experience.”

Kevin Elston, an avid HealthX®-goer, had this to say about his experience cold plunging. “For me, it’s as much spiritual and mental as it is physical. During my four minutes in the water, if I’m not praying, I am repeating the mantra, ‘I can do hard things.’”

Ain’t that the cold truth!

•

Is That A Thing?

January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 63

Take a Walk!

Shout Out

New Pedestrian Walkway in Ridgefield

T

he construction of the elevated boardwalk on Ligi Way is coming to a close and is ready for walkers and runners to enjoy. The completion of this project provides another safe footpath for pedestrians and is one more step toward eventually creating a continuous walking path from the Rec Center all the way to Branchville.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth of not just residents but car traffic in Ridgefield, so how do we create a safe pedestrian walkway for people who want a traffic-free path?

There’s the rail trail at Sunset Lane and we have a great walking trail around Parks and Rec, but we had nothing in between,” says First Selectman Rudy Marconi.

Plans were drawn up to create a halfmile walkway beginning at Danbury Road and Farmingville Road, extending along Farmingville Road and Ligi’s Way, and ending at Ligi’s Way and South Street.

The stretch along Ligi Way from Farmingville Road through Great Swamp required a cantilevered boardwalk to protect the wetlands. The finished boardwalk runs about 1350 linear feet and has an observation area where walkers can pause and view the wildlife and vegetation of the Great Swamp. Safety precautions such as handrails and steel-backed wooden guard rails have been installed to keep The observation area of the pathway along Ligi Way allows walkers and runners to pause and view the wildlife in the Great Swamp.

64 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Shout Out

Gerri Lewis Publishes

The Last Word a Mystery Set in Ridgefield

R

eaders of 068 Magazine (and Ridgefield Magazine before that) will surely recognize Gerri Lewis’ byline – she has written countless articles about the people and places in Ridgefield, the town where she grew up and raised her own children. In February, Gerri’s first foray into fiction will come to fruition with the publication of The Last Word, a cozy mystery that is set, of course, in Ridgefield. “Initially the book took place in a fictional town, but my good friend Jack Sanders suggested that it would be fun to use Ridgefield,” says Gerri.

The Last Word follows the story of Winter Snow, an obituary writer, who is intrigued when she is asked to write an obituary for the still very much alive Leocadia Arlington. When Leocadia is found dead a few days later and Winter is one of the primes suspects, she makes it her mission to find the real killer and clear her name.

Cozy mysteries are a subset of mystery novels that traditionally include an amateur sleuth, an unsuspecting

66 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

victim, a quirky supporting cast, and a trail of clues and red herrings. Readers enjoy being able to solve the mystery as the story unfolds. “There’s a little blood, but no guts or gore in my book,” says Gerri.

Gerri is extremely grateful for her agent, Adam Chromy of Moveable Type Management and her publisher, Crooked Lane Books, both of whom have made this journey enjoyable. “I’ve rewritten the book four or five times, so it’s been a process. I felt like I won the lottery when I got an agent and then won again when it was accepted to be published,” says Gerri.

The Last Word, the first in the Deadly Deadlines mystery series, will be released on Feb 20th and can be pre-ordered through most book sellers, including Ridgefield’s Books on the Common, which will be hosting a promotional event in February. An audio book will also be available.

To stay updated on author events, go to gerrilewis.com

The newly constructed boardwalk along Ligi Way offers a safe pedestrian pathway. It is one segment of a planned pathway that will eventually extend from Parks and Rec all the way to Branchville.

pedestrians safe.

The Ligi Way project was almost completely funded by a state grant through the local traffic capital improvement fund that was earmarked for this type of project. The $2.8 million grant was approved by a vote of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments.

“We’re coming in on budget,” says Jake Muller, Director of Facilities, Safety and Purchasing for the town.

At this point the walkway will terminate at ROAR, but eventually there is a plan to continue the sidewalk all the way to where the Goodwill truck is parked.

Currently, there’s a trail behind the truck that connects to the Rail Trail on Sunset Lane. “Our end goal will be to have a 10-mile round-trip pedestrian walkway that goes from Parks and Rec to Branchville,” says Marconi. “It’s a vision for the future.”

•

Welcome

Come Out and The Play Place Wilton Opens the Door to Fun

by Aline Weiller

W

ilton just got a lot more fun thanks to Shawn and Fiona Dyer. The parents of five launched The Play Place Wilton (theplayplace.net) at a mid-summer soft opening. They secured the 12,300 squarefoot facility at 644 Danbury Road tucked behind the YMCA Gymnastics Training Center and are open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, with a non-slip socks-only policy.

The Play Place offers family-friendly programming for the 10 and under set to include open play memberships and after school classes (buses available from Miller Driscoll School), to holiday camps and one-stop shopping birthday celebrations.

The parties are 90-minutes long: 30 minutes each of Adventure Playground open play, organized field games, then pizza and cake.

“We’re a community at The Play Place and take pride in knowing our members’ names…we care. We’re pleased to provide sports and educational programs plus an event space for a range of children,” said Play Place owner, Shawn Dyer.

Toddlers to tweens are welcome to burn off energy via soccer and lacrosse, perfecting their archery or robotics proficiency, to enhancing creativity through arts & crafts and Legos. There’s plenty of age-appropriate activities for local kids and

68 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

The Play Place makes for a casual meet-up locale for caregivers. Sports teams are also invited to rent out the venue for practice.

“We’ve grown faster than expected and have plans for an outdoor space and cafe.

Foot traffic continues to increase month after month,” continued Dyer.

The Play Place also offers The Indy Lab — a daily pre-school transitional program for children 12-28 months (accompanied by an adult), based on playful literacy and fostering good communication.

“I went to open play for the first time and bought a membership that day. The Play Place is affordable and a great way to meet other moms. It’s also the perfect space for my 15-month-old daughter, Vivienne, to develop her walking skills and socialize with kids her age,” said member, Kelsey O’Marra.

The Play Place is pristine: there are thorough daily cleanings (with additional wipe downs during slow periods), and hand sanitizer abounds. Other features include interactive screens, climbing stations, and even a toddler-sized toilet. The Play Place is a sure-fire destination for Wiltonites and beyond. Follow The Play Place Wilton on Facebook, Instagram, and X: @ theplayplacewilton.

“You bring the kids, we’ll bring the fun,” said Shawn Dyer.

•

P

! y a l P January/February 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 69

70 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

One More Thing | Powered By Fairfield County Bank Above, Tidal Pool, 16”x20” framed, 11x14” unframed. Right, Happy Hour, 18x18” framed, 11x14” unframed.

Grace

Drake

G

race Drake is a contemporary abstract artist based in New York, whose captivating mixed media works are an exploration and celebration of color. Through her natural gestural marks and vibrant, bold color palettes, Drake creates vivid and energetic pieces that exude happiness. Her emotive, intuitive style of painting allows her to explore storytelling through color and texture, as she captures her subconscious thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Drake uses this dynamic visual language of abstraction to connect and engage with her audience.

•

you can now vote for who to highlight for One More Thing: Go to 068magazine.com/voteforonemorething link and fill out the form to recommend a person you would like to see highlighted who is exceptional in the arts. You can vote for any category of artist and then list the name of the artist or work of art. If you are an artist, please use the HIGHLIGHT MY ART graphic which can be downloaded to campaign for votes. The artist with the most votes in February will be spotlighted in the March/April issue.

Thank you for supporting the arts in Fairfield County.

72 • 068 MAGAZINE • January/February 2024

Featuring

and RPAC Resident Artists

Amy Shaw • Brandy Perrone • Daniel Wade Barrett • Dee Dee Colabella • Dylan Miller • Greg Mursko Jim Malloy • Matthew Franz • Meredith Mulhearn • Mozelle Marks • Sara Amorosino • Terrence Mahon Alaexander Shattan • Terry Feldman • Aimee Jette

Opening Reception Thursday, January 18, 2024 6:00pm-9:00pm Exhibit Runs January 18, 2024 - March 10, 2024

410 Main Street Ridgefield, CT info@rpacgallery.com (203) 894 - 5609