068_Magazine_Mar_Apr2024

Have You Met? Wilton’s Media Maven - Heather Borden Herve

Comedian Colin

MARCH/APRIL • 2024

Quinn

Not a Politician...

Hates Sourdough

Local CSAs Bridging the Gap from Farm to your Plate

Chocolate The Chemistry of Crafting a Favorite Treat

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Sub-Head by line

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Issue Date • www.068magazine.com • 1

Contents

48

34 Stepping Out KICKS Public Art Campaign

38 Clear the Clutter Tips for a Spring Refresh

42 Farm Fresh CSA’s Bridge the Gap from Farm to Plate

48 The (Prancing) Horse Whisperer 54 5 Questions With Colin Quinn

28 Celebrating

International Women’s Day

2 • 068 MAGAZINE • March/April 2024

ON THE COVER Writer and Comedian Colin Quinn will be at The Ridgefield Playhouse in April

Contents

In The Front 10

Noted

Mary Jones

11

Behind The Scenes

12

Old Ridgefield House of Friends

18

Have You Met? Heather Borden Herve

22

Art In The Spotlight The Art of Quilting

26

Culinary Chemist Creating Chocolate

70

In The Back 62

Foodies Kitchen Essentials

68

Is That a Thing?

Rucking

70

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76

Shout Out Welcome Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee

80

One More Thing

Noted

by Mary Jones

Growth…

A

s the owner of Rodier Flowers, when I think of growth, flowers and plants are top of mind. Digging a little deeper, however, are the many ways we grow as people: physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. Growth can be easy or difficult. Compulsory, like a child; deliberate, as we seek to better our situation; or even accidental, despite ourselves. So often we use growth and opportunity in the same sentence, but that is a bit of a chicken or the egg situation. Which is first? Do we grow and then find opportunity? Or does opportunity present itself, and in the process of exploring and pursuing, we grow? If we choose not to take up an opportunity, haven’t we also grown in that choice, too? So many points to consider.

There are a few certainties in my life. My loving husband and his positive spirit are intertwined with my personal growth. My beautiful children have grown into caring adults and grow more wonderful every day - a completely objective observation, and my company’s growth, which is a great source of pride. I say so with gratitude to my teams, the founders, and of our wonderful customers.

Continued growth is essential to life, or at least my life. So much of my growth as has been shaped and has happened in this fabulous town of Ridgefield. The schools, the arts, the kindhearted townspeople, the history, the beautiful environment, the connection to nature all combine to make growth and opportunity as pleasant as can be. As Rodier Flowers moves into its new and expanded space at 381 Main Street, I am reminded that it is a blessing to live and do business here.

May you find the same. Wishing you much growth and opportunity, with smooth sailing, sunny skies, and a light breeze at your back.

All the best~ Mary

Behind The Scenes

Vol 3, Issue 2 • March/April 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 Darla Shaw, Megan Smith-Harris, Johanna Dodd, Aline Weiller, Gerri Lewis, Erik Ofgang, and Kate Perry

Contributing Photographers Dylan Miller, Lisa Cousins of Panosnaps, LLC

Advertising Sales David Gursky | 914.646.9141 sales@068magazine.com Erica Shillingford | 914.844.5602 eshillingford@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.

This Issue’s

Feature Writers Joey Macari Joey Macari is a freelance writer and content creator who writes bespoke copy for multiple media publications in the Northeast, in addition to social media copywriting for multiple non-profit arts organizations, NY Times best-selling authors, and more. Joey is also a working actor, having recently appeared on the 65th Grammy Awards in support of her favorite band, Coldplay, and teaches theater to youth in greater Boston.

On page #22, Joey explores quilting as an art form.

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. On page #28, Carin reports on International Women’s Day and highlights women making a difference in the community. She also spoke to local professional organziers and shares their best tips on tackling spring cleaning and decluttering on page #38.

Farah Masani Farah Masani was born in Bombay, India and grew up romping around farms and animals. This foundation led to a lifelong passion for growing fresh, nutritious food with real flavor, accessible to all. Farah is the head of purchasing at Barcelona Wine Bar and works with producers and artisans around the world sourcing ethical, equatable, quality ingredients. On page #42, Farah shines a light on the benefits of CSA’s for both farmers and consumers

Roger Garbow

www.068magazine.com POWERED BY

EVENT CALENDAR BY

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 speaks with Francois Sicard, an icon in the world of Ferraris.

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 11

Old Ridgefield

by Darla Shaw

House of R

Mary “May” Rockwell, who established the House of Friends as a way to fill her home with intelligent and artistic companions.

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idgefield has always been known as a friendly town with a focus on culture and the arts. Embodying these Ridgefield elements, the House of Friends, an upper-class boarding house for writers, musicians, and others in the arts, was opened in 1910.

Located on Governor Street, where the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Building is now, the House of Friends was the home of Mary “May” Rockwell. The Rockwell’s had previously owned the Elms Inn on Main Street and were a distinguished family with a long history in Ridgefield.

After her parents died and May Rockwell was alone, she found that her family home was too large for one person. To keep her company, May invited those who were, “intellectually interesting and congenial,” to become boarders (or guests as she called them) in her House of Friends.

May’s first boarder was her first cousin Faustina Hurlbutt. Like May, Faustina was a highly accomplished musician with a focus on piano. Both women had extensive educational training from various seminaries and Oberlin College, at a time when few women even graduated from high school. May had also studied piano in Germany. To earn money, May and Faustina created the Rockwell-Hurlbutt School of Music for lessons, concerts, recitals, and other artistic venues. This school of music was part of the House of Friends.

Since May was an albino, with vision in only one eye, she taught the beginning piano students while her cousin, Faustina, trained the advanced students. Students came from other towns and states to take lessons from these two women who were icons and highly regarded in the community.

Another long-term boarder with a prestigious

Old Ridgefield

Early Ridgefield Boarding House for People in the Arts

Top, photo of students at the Center School in Ridgefield. Mabel Cleves is pictured on the right. Above, the original location of the Rockwell house was on Main Street and at the time was the home of Phineas C. Lounsbury before being moved to Governor Street.

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 13

Old Ridgefield

background was Mabel Cleves. Mabel was a Columbia University educated teacher.

She was also trained in the Montessori and Frobel methods of early education. In the early 1900’s, there were very few certified kindergarten teachers in America and Mabel was one of them. She came to Ridgefield with teaching experience in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New York, and was the first to teach kindergarten in Ridgefield.

Mabel also started one of the first preschools in the country.

Mabel, with her hands-on experiential learning techniques for young people, started a whole new trend in education in Ridgefield. It did not matter if she was teaching at a one-room schoolhouse, the Alexander Hamilton School, the Garden School, the Center School, the town hall, or St. Stephen’s, her students always excelled and loved school.

To teach, Mabel needed a corner room with windows and light, a place for gardens, and room for dancing, taking part in the arts, and learning centers. Mabel raised funds or used her own money for materials, to help students needing clothing, food or medicine, or to buy books for the children to take home. To help parents learn about their part in their children’s education, Mabel started the town’s first PTA and Saturday morning storytelling hour for children at the library.

Mary, Faustina, and Mabel lived together for almost forty years in the House of Friends, but there were also many other residents and visitors of note. Music Professor Charles Barry from Oberlin College would spend the summer along with Mr. Pickett, tutor for the children on the Doubleday Estate. Del Bryon, son of a prominent local doctor, photographer, minister, and missionary to China was one of the women’s favorite guests along with many of their own relatives. They also enjoyed the company of the owners of Le Chateau, Reverend William Rainsford, A.H. Storer, Ruth McDevitt, and visitors of wealthy people in town who loved the atmosphere of the house. Chamber music during dinner hour, cultural discussions, and readings on the veranda during tea were

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Mabel Cleves, a long-time boarder at House of Friends, was a Columbia University educated teacher.

Old Ridgefield

Left, Faustina Hurlbutt, May Rockwell’s first cousin, who taught music lessons. Above, the House of Friends at its Governor Street location.

favored by many.

The Legacy of the House of Friends and its boarders lives on. Oberlin College still offers the Faustina Hurlbutt Scholarship in music to an outstanding cello, piano, voice or violin student. In 1955, with the opening of Veterans’ Park Elementary School, the auditorium was named after Mabel Cleves for her outstanding work in early education.

The history of the house itself is also of great significance. The original colonial structure was on Main Street where the Lounsbury house is now located. It first served as the home and office of three physicians from the prominent Perry family.

Before being redesigned to look more Victorian and became the home of Phineas Lounsbury. When Phineas became governor,

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he wanted a home with more grandeur. To achieve this, Phineas had his old house (The House of Friends to be) moved to Governor Street and he built the Lounsbury House which is a replica of the Connecticut State House from the 1893 World’s Fair.

When Phineas’ old house was moved to Governor Street, it was purchased at a good price by the Rockwell family. The Rockwell’s and Lounsbury’s were related. After Mary Rockwell died the house was sold and it because a building for businesses. In 1915, the House of Friends was torn down and the RVNA now stands in its place.

Ridgefield may no longer have a House of Friends for cultural activities, but it certainly has numerous separate venues in town of which May, Faustina, and Mabel would be very proud.

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Have You Met?

by Megan Smith-Harris

Heather

Borden Herve Media Maven

T

Heather Borden Herve working at the Wilton Chamber of Commerce annual street fair, where she enjoys meeting people and telling them about GMW.

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here are moments in our lives when a single decision leads to seismic personal change. Wilton’s Heather Borden Herve experienced such a moment in 1997 while working as a producer at Entertainment Tonight in New York. At the time, ET was the leading entertainment news source in the country, so her life was fast-paced and laser-focused on popular culture. “I had to know everything about everybody - who Naomi Campbell was dating, where Carolyn Bessette Kennedy got her hair colored, who was in the latest blockbuster movie.”

Producers were expected to be aggressive, get the story, and always be first. The job was intense; the pace - relentless.

After three years at ET, (following stints in publicity at Self Magazine and TV Guide), Borden Herve was a seasoned, in-demand media professional in the midst of renegotiating her contract. During a critical network television Sweeps Week, she developed a noticeable eye twitch. After taking a much-needed vacation to Club Med in Turks and Caicos, the twitch disappeared. But back at work, the second she

heard the distinctive ET theme song, the twitch returned. It became clear to Borden Herve that her high-pressure lifestyle was unsustainable. She called her lawyer and instructed him to stop the contract negotiations. “I quit and went back to Club Med, this time in Florida, where I worked for two years and met my future husband.”

This one decision (dubbed her “quarterlife crisis”) set into motion a series of events marriage, motherhood, and a move from Chicago to Wilton in 2007 - that altered the course of Borden Herve’s life. Once in Connecticut, she launched a new career as an opinion columnist for Patch, a hyper-local, online news organization.

Eventually, Borden Herve’s thrice-weekly column was syndicated in 40 Patch news outlets.

In the ensuing years, Borden Herve realized there was a lot going on right here in her own town and that she could use her talent and skill to create her own outlet for local news. She wanted to focus her energies on Wilton - the town she had grown to love. The seed for creating her own online daily news outlet became firmly planted and in August 2013, GOOD Morning Wilton

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOMENTS BY ANDREA

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 19

Have You Met?

Borden Herve with State Senator Will Haskell after interviewing him in January 2020 for her “Wake Up Call” podcast on Fairfield County Talk Radio.

Borden Herve presenting Riverbrook Regional YMCA retiring CEO Bob McDowell with a “GOODie Award” which recognizes people who’ve made life-changing contributions for the GOOD of Wilton.

was launched.

It was a steep learning curve but Borden Herve learned by doing. “I couldn’t pay anyone. Every day it was, ‘I’ll figure it out as I go.’” More than a decade later, GMW is thriving, has three steady freelancers, and gets up to 5,000 views a day.

“Everything I did in my life came to this. It’s a synthesis of doing the work I love and always wanted to do,” says Borden Herve who reports daily on anything to do with Wilton - the people, businesses, non-profits, local politics, and events. The job is all-consuming but in a way that offers enormous personal and professional satisfaction.

“News never stops so it’s hard for me to,” admits Borden Herve, who has trained herself to function on only four hours of sleep. “If I’m on vacation and a news story breaks, it takes priority.”

“I don’t make everyone happy,” acknowledges Borden Herve. I get the occasional, anonymous e-mail and nasty, hateful things sent to me. There are people who shun me and yell at me in grocery stores. Sometimes my husband says to me, ‘could you be a little less principled?’ but it’s hard because that’s the very definition of what I do.” Over the years,

she’s developed a thick skin. “The good outweighs any flak and criticism that comes my way.”

The reward? Seeing a measurable and positive impact on the community: higher voter turnout; successful fund-raisers; the outpouring of support for a local family who lost everything in a fire; former GMW interns landing their media dream jobs.

“A lot of people don’t know what’s involved in putting sourced, reliable, accurate news out there - and that’s not to say we don’t make mistakes.” Borden Herve is fiercely committed to keeping the news reported on GOOD Morning Wilton free and accessible to everyone.

It is still a business though, kept afloat by regular advertisers and readers who voluntarily buy annual memberships, allowing GMW to flourish.

“Wilton is a unicorn town,” observes Borden Herve.“It’s the right size for this kind of publication. I live here, my kids go to school here. I bend over backward to be as rigorous and principled as I can be and do my very best to be objective. Providing good quality writing and journalism in a place that I love and in a way I can feel respectful of when I look in the mirror is everything.”

Borden Herve receiving the award for Outstanding Woman-Owned Business from the Wilton Chamber of Commerce in 2015.

Even 90-plus degree weather doesn’t keep Borden Herve from getting her GMW message out.

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Art In The Spotlight

by Joey Macari

Quilting

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Unraveled A

t first glance, quilting might seem like your grandma’s favorite pastime. Old-school notions aside, the art of quilting isn’t just about keeping warm, and has since evolved into a fine art medium for self-expression. Every square and every stitch weaves together a story about community, tradition, and unbridled creativity.

From quilts that explore themes of identity and diversity to those that highlight environmental concerns, the art form has become a vehicle for artists to engage with and comment on the complexities of the modern world. Digital tools and software of the 21st century have propelled quilting into new heights— allowing quilters to bring their visions to life with greater precision and efficiency.

Beyond the cozy confines of blankets and bedspreads, quilting has evolved into an intricate expression of creativity, with the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) here in Connecticut leading the charge in championing the art quilt. “Design and purpose of the quilts is the biggest factor that sets art quilts from traditional quilts,” says Gina Grubb Frank, Connecticut Regional Representative of the SAQA. “The final work shares a story through the eyes of the artist and is seen as artwork.”

Frank offers her expert insight into the art form—crediting “artistic freedom” to its evolution and rise in popularity. “I was a traditional quilter up until about 15 years ago when I was invited to join Sisters in Cloth (an area quilting group) and

Judy Ross’s quilt Iguana is a masterpiece in craftsmanship and extraordinary detail.

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 23

Art In The Spotlight

Kate Themel’s attention to detail in her quilt, Transformation, adds a realistic feeling of movement.

In her quilt, Curvacseous, Norma Schlager intergrates floral photos with her hand-dyed fabric to create texture and depth.

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then members of Sister encouraged me to join SAQA,” says Frank. “These two groups forever changed my thinking of quilting and gave me freedom to express myself through my work.” Offering a unique perspective on the changing dynamics of quilts, Frank further elaborates on the versatility of art quilts. “I personally believe that art quilts have flourished because the piece can be displayed in your home or office,” says Frank. “A traditional quilt usually went on a bed, in the closet or took up wall space to be displayed.”

Established as a nonprofit organization, SAQA has grown into a global hub, uniting over 4,000 artists, curators, collectors, and art professionals. Through a series of initiatives, SAQA seeks to elevate the art quilt’s status by organizing exhibitions that showcase the diversity and brilliance of art quilts. SAQA’s commitment to excellence is evident in the curation of these exhibitions, which not only celebrate established artists, but also embrace new talent.

SAQA’s upcoming touring exhibition, titled, Local Color 6: Flora & Fauna, features a vibrant collection of thirty-two fiber art pieces crafted by twenty-six accomplished artists. The showcased artworks range from realistic to abstract representations— capturing both real and imagined plants and animals through a variety of innovative methods. By bridging tradition with contemporary art, SAQA aims to acknowledge and celebrate the art quilt as a dynamic and evolving form of expression.

SAQA’s, “Juried Artist Program,” provides a structured path for members to enter the art world, with Margaret Phillips, a SAQA member, exemplifying its success as a Juried Artist Member. Her latest work being displayed at the exhibit, #194-2 Two Flowers, demonstrates the seamless integration of her lifelong passion for sewing and drawing.

Crafted from cotton fabrics and batting, with meticulous machine piecing and quilting using both cotton and polyester threads, the quilt represents a harmonious blend of mediums. “I have been sewing and drawing my entire life so using my drawings to inform my quilting and visa versa comes naturally to me,” says Phillips.

Norma Schlager, another featured

#194-2 Two Flowers by Margaret Phillips is a blend of the artist’s two passions - drawing and quilting.

artist, finds inspiration in her Escargot Begonia’s captivating spiral leaves and vibrant hues. Her masterpiece, Curvaceous, skillfully captures a single leaf ’s essence through detailed photography and creative Photoshop elements. Printed on white fabric

by Spoonflower for a larger scale, the quilt undergoes meticulous free motion machine quilting adding texture and depth. Schlager, a seasoned quilter, embraces a new creative avenue by seamlessly integrating floral photos into her work, harmonizing with her distinct hand-dyed materials. “I am happiest when creating something artistic,” says Schlager, who’s found joy in designing her own unique art quilts.

In addition to exhibitions, SAQA provides valuable resources and a platform for artists to excel. Through workshops where members can “show and tell” their quilts and receive constructive feedback, visits to other exhibits and speaking engagements throughout the region, SAQA empowers its members to hone their skills,

Dahlia Festival by Ruth Anne Olson is a beautiful explosion of color and patterns.

experiment with new techniques and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the everevolving world of quilting.

As the threads of creativity continue to weave through the fabric of the quilting community, SAQA stands as a testament to the enduring legacy and limitless possibilities of the art quilt. Whether you’re a seasoned quilting enthusiast or just starting your journey with a needle and thread, the vibrant world of art quilts invites everyone to explore, create and be part of this rich tapestry of artistic expression. Happy quilting!

Local Color 6: Floral & Fauna, opens on February 6th at the Guilford Art Center and will travel to various galleries throughout Connecticut in 2024. For more information, please visit www.saqa.com or email saqalocalcolor@gmail.com Studio Art Quilt Associates PO Box 141, Hebron, CT 06248 Phone 860-530-1551 https://www.saqa.com

Culinary Chemist

by Johanna Dodd

Bar

From Bean to

Creating Delicious Chocolate

O

The finished chocolate can be used to create popular (and tasty) treats such as candy pieces and molds.

26 • 068 MAGAZINE • March/April 2024

ver its nearly 4,000 year human history, chocolate has mainly been consumed as a drink, but in the last 150 years or so, the solid form of chocolate has soared in popularity. The average American consumes about 20lbs per year, most as a mixture of cheap candy bars and the occasional great chocolate from a local manufacturer.

As with many food chemistry stories, chocolate’s starts with fermentation. The bean of the cacao plant is removed by hand, then laid out on raised wooden mats, often with banana leaves placed over them. This allows the natural yeasts and bacteria from the air to ferment the pulp around the beans, which drips away as alcohols and lactic and acetic acids - the final products of this fermentation.

The heat produced by fermentation changes the bean, producing the flavor chemicals familiar to the consumer as chocolate, and removes more dangerous bacteria, so they can then be sun-dried. The beans are further processed into the more recognizable cocoa solids and butter.

Mike Grissmer, co-owner of Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe, says the best cocoa products come from small farms where attention to detail means the fermentation and drying processes are well-controlled. Small batch processing, where grinding dictates the particle size of the cocoa solid powder, also affects the quality of the final chocolate. This makes choosing a cocoa importer as crucial as any part of making chocolate.

Grissmer explained the fascinating processes their chocolate goes through to create the highend finished product. The smooth texture of exceptional chocolate is down to the quantity of cocoa butter and sugar in the chocolate, but also the chemistry of cocoa butter crystallization.

There are six crystal forms of cocoa butter but only one, the beta version (or form V), that gives the tell-tale snap of fine chocolate.

The chocolate must be brought up to a specific temperature, known as tempering, then seed chocolate, with the beta crystal structure you are looking for, needs to be added, and finally, it must be allowed to cool slowly. “There are so many things that can go wrong with chocolate!” says Grissmer. “Early on, we would think we had it all tempered properly, but they were coming out with streaks on them. We talked to some more experienced chocolate people, 25 years ago, and they told us we needed the right cooling and airflow, so we now have fans blowing on the chocolate to get it to cool more quickly and bring cold air back to the chocolate, so that the right crystals kept forming.”

If you want your chocolate to remain in its beautiful original state, keep it cool and dry or you may notice a whitish residue - this is called blooming. Heat or condensation mean the fat or sugar have come to the surface. Grissmer says that blooms aren’t bad, but your chocolate won’t be quite the same, so eat it when it’s fresh!

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Chocolate is brought up to a very specific temperature, a process known as tempering, and then allowed to cool slowly.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PANOSNAPS, LLC

Megan Morra, the first woman firefighter in Wilton, embodies a “there’s nothing I can’t do” attitude every time she puts on her gear.

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Above, Amanda Cordano and high school mentors promoting the Ms President US organization. Right, Ms President candidates on stage with elected officials Rebecca Pemberton (Redding First Select), Kim Healy (Wilton BoE Member), and Rudy Marconi (Ridgefield First Select), and host Patti Russo (Campaign School at Yale). Far right, Valentina McManus takes the podium for Ms President US.

I

nternational Women’s Day on March 8th is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Equal Pay Day is a few days later on March 12 this year, and represents how far into the year women must work to make as much money as men did the previous year.

Increasingly, women are taking more leaderships roles in business and are entering fields historically dominated by men.

Wilton’s first female firefighter Megan Morra is a one local example. Despite coming from a family of professional firefighters, Morra never considered it as an option for herself.

“One day, I went with a friend to a firehouse and helped clean up after a

structural fire. The captain asked who I was, and after I explained, he said, ‘Well, if you’re going to help, you might as well apply,’” Morra recalls. “It was an ah-ha moment – before then, I never knew I could, that I was allowed.”

Morra feels fortunate to have a captain that includes her with everyone else and to be supported by her peers. “One night after working a fire, the house owners said, ‘Thanks guys.’ When I took off my gear, they looked surprised and said, ‘Whoa – she’s female!’ They didn’t know because I did everything all the men did – I kept up with them.”

Morra’s suggestion when faced with a challenge? “Do it – don’t hesitate – don’t

think you can’t. There’s nothing stopping you other than yourself.”

While much work remains to get to an equal state, we have examples of progress.

Renee Weisman was one of the first women engineers at IBM, breaking the glass ceiling in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her book, Winning in a Man’s World, chronicles her journey to becoming one of IBM’s first woman Distinguished Engineers, including the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Her best advice for women today? “Always project a ‘can-do’ attitude and don’t wear your heart on your sleeve,” Weisman says. “Results matter. Be the one who gets the results.”

In an effort to influence the younger

by Carin L. Weisman

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 29

Left, Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas poses with Avery Holtz and Alexa Marr.

Top, First Selectman Rudy Marconi and State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo with Georgia Ross. Above, State Senator Cici Maher signs her autograph for two young Ms President US members.

generation, Ms President US, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization founded in the 068, strives to motivate and prepare girls to aim for the highest civic leadership positions.

Amanda Cordano, Executive Director, notes that there has been a profound shift in the girls’ mindsets. “What’s really interesting is the topic of inequality doesn’t come up.

Rarely is the conversation about women compared with men,” Cordano says.

“Instead, the girls get excited by the issues and meeting women who are activists – civic-minded and action-oriented.” That includes meeting Meredith Bergmann who commissioned the first womancentered monument in NYC’s Central Park portraying women’s rights pioneers Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (until this unveiling in 2020, the only other female statue in the entire park was of a fictional character, Alice

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in Wonderland); hearing Quaker activists Liseli Haines and Buffy Curtis discuss their time as water protectors, standing in solidarity with native people for earth stewardship; and interviewing Laura Smits, President of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Tina Courpas, Executive Director on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Connecticut, and Dr. Golnar Raissi-Sadeghi, Co-founder of Bridge of Hope.

Cordano is filled with stories like this.

One that rises to the top is when the middle schoolers met with CT State Senator Mae Flexer who was nursing her newborn during the Zoom. “That was a pretty big deal for our girls to see,” Cordano recalls. “Here is a human trying to juggle being a state senator and a new mother at the same time – how do you do that?”

Lianne Sorkin, of Pound Ridge, NY,

who has produced many of the United Nation’s commemorations for International Women’s Day reflects, “I’m struck with the impact it has – locally and globally. People have become more educated, informed, and inspired because of the focus on March 8th.

It provides both a joyful day to celebrate the progress made and a call-to-action to connect deeply, collaborate broadly, and commit wholeheartedly to the road that is ahead of us.”

So, as we celebrate International Women’s Day this year and Equal Pay Day a few days later, let’s take a moment to remember the progress that has been made – in recent history, Equal Pay Day was in May! This year let’s recognize and embrace the many opportunities we have each and every day to change the narrative and hope that one day Equal Pay Day will be on January 1.

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ADVERTORIAL

Take a Breath Peaceable Yoga Offers a Space to Reset and Recharge

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magine what it would be like to take a good breath….not a measured, controlled breath….but one that really fills you up in all the ways you need. Sound good? At Peaceable Yoga, owner and instructor Alison Aronson guides her students to do just that. “Do what feels good for you and for your body today,” she says.

Alison had been a longtime runner but when she had to give that up, she needed to find something else that put her mind and body “in the zone.” She found hot yoga – and was hooked. Hot yoga is not the same as Bikram. The temperature of the room in a hot yoga class is usually set around 90 - 95 degrees, as opposed to the very specific 105 in Bikram.

Poses are not held as long, nor are they in a specific order, allowing the instructor more creativity and interaction with students The benefits of hot yoga are plentiful. The warmth of the room loosens the muscles, allowing for greater freedom of movement and stretching and resulting in greater flexibility.

Alison became a certified yoga teacher and led hot yoga classes at various studios in the area including the Saw Mill Club and Yellow Monkey Village. When she moved to the Ridgefield area with her husband in 2019, she decided to make the switch to teaching her own classes and Peaceable Yoga was born. In late 2022 they remodeled a barn on the property and created a beautiful 500

square foot yoga room, which can comfortably fit 10 - 12 students. Infra-red radiant heat ceiling panels keep the room toasty, which feels wonderful on chilly mornings. In the warmer months, Peaceable Yoga has an in-ground pool adjacent to the yoga studio for cooling off after a hot session.

Classes at Peaceable Yoga are open to all levels. “Whether it’s your first yoga class, coming back after a long time away, or after years of practicing – there’s something for everyone and I find I learn something new each time,” says Ed Reder. Alison encourages her students to listen to their bodies and use that as a guide. “If someone needs to take a break and come into child’s pose and stay there, that’s okay,” says Alison.

Peaceable Yoga strives to create an atmosphere where participants feel supported – literally with yoga blocks – and figuratively. “As a busy professional, Peaceable Yoga is my place to relax, reset, refocus, and regroup,” says Dr. Susan Vosko.

Alison’s style of teaching brings a unique flair to her classes – she curates unconventional and creative playlists with music ranging from the Rolling Stones to Bonnie Raitt. She also believes yoga should be fun and not always taken so seriously. “Alison always brings a bit of humor along the way. There is rarely a class without a little laughter amongst the group,” says Kristen Turkel.

Classes run 90 minutes and are held every morning, seven days a week. Recently, Alison added an evening class on Tuesday nights. For more information or to sign up, please visit peaceableyoga.offeringtree.com.

Namaste

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I ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative

by Julia Bruce

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n 2021, ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative was a new non-profit in town with a mission to help artists go to school, create collections and finally, to coordinate public art events.

The first event in 2021was the successful BowWOW Art Dog project, where full-size fiberglass painted dogs could be found in over 20 places around town. This event raised $90,000 and was able to not only fund ArtFul, but also help ROAR and The Ridgefield Guild of Artist as co-beneficiaries.

This spring, ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative is proud to present the “KICKS Public Art Event” (KPAE) brought to you by Ridgefield Running Company which will place large fiberglass sneakers - ranging in size from 1.5 feet to a whopping 6 feet tall throughout town.

Ridgefield Running Company, owned and operated by Megan Searfoss, has stepped up to be the title sponsor for the KPAE. “This event celebrates Ridgefield’s love for the arts and movement,” says Searfoss.

Local businesses will have the opportunity to sponsor at various levels and then interested artists will personalize the blank shoes with their own creative interpretation. So far, the response to the KICKS campaign has been overwhelmingly positive.

Decorated KICKS sneaker sculptures will be on display through mid-September. The sneakers will be auctioned off at the end of the campaign with the net proceeds to benefit ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative, as well as KICKS for Kids, a non-profit that provides running shoes and athletic wear

Sneaker designs by Franki Vinci, top, and Tharini Pande, bottom.

Sneaker designs already submitted by artists.

Top row, Matthew Franz, Greg Mursko, and Leslie Cober. Middle row, Alison McLoughlin, Brandy Perrone, and Gabrielle Fludd. Right, Briana Sudzinski, Below left, Alexander Shattan. Below right, Jane Gilman Fleischner.

to student athletes in underserved school districts.

The first few sculptures are scheduled to start appearing around town this May, coinciding with RRC’s annual Run Like A Mother Event on May 12th. In keeping with the theme of unity the community, 068 Magazine, as one of the top-level sponsors of the KICKS Public Art Event, will have their “Art Makes the Heart Soar” sneaker in Ballard Park and invites the public to add their own creative mark.

RRC employee Tharini Pande has volunteered her talent to paint a sneaker. “As a runner myself, participating in the KICKS Public Art Event was instinctual because RRC’s core values very much align with my own,” says Tharini.

The youngest local artist so far is Alexander Shattan, who creates customized (real-sized) sneakers with his street-style inspired doodle art says this is by far the biggest shoe he’s worked on. “When I was a kid, I had a teacher who believed in me as an artist, so I feel like I am contributing my talent to a cause that’s helping upcoming artists in the same way,” says Alex.

There are still opportunities for businesses and individuals to become sponsors and for artists to get involved.

For more information, please visit www. artfulgives.org.

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Artful Visual Arts Initiative 424R Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 (475) 215-5740 artfulgives.org

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Shannon Krause of TIdy Nest suggests using the vertical space on walls and the backs of doors to significantly increase your storage capacity.

Clear the Clutter According to The Tweaked Home, repurposing items you already own can give a you new perspective on a room.

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Tips for a Spring Refresh

by Carin L. Weisman Spring is the perfect time to tidy up inside and out..

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s winter ends and spring begins, hope and renewal fill the air. To make your spring cleaning efficient and effective, we turned to local experts to cut through the clutter (pun intended!) of advice filling our feeds.

Feng Shui practioners use a luo pan to determine energies of a property.

Starting inside Nicole Fortson and Sarah Sullivan, The Tweaked Home co-owners, suggest using spring to give your house a fresh look – and it’s easier than you think.

“Moving a vase from one room to the next can make it look completely different,” Fortson says.

“Use what you have and bring a fresh perspective.”

They recommend stripping away all surface items and putting them in one pile to view. “Ask yourself, ‘Would I purchase this?’ If the answer is no, put it aside and you will be left only with things you love,” says Sullivan.

Nicole and Sarah’s pick: “After the dark and gray winter, we love plants to make it feel fresh and alive. Tulips or forsythia from our yard help bring spring inside. Pothos is a personal favorite, it grows beautifully in most conditions and is very forgiving.”

Gearing up the garage After a long and messy winter, the number one place to spring clean is the garage. “The garage is very exciting,” says Kathleen O’Connor, co-owner

of House 2 Home Organizing. “It’s one of the best areas to store items that don’t need to take up valuable real estate and clutter your house.” A core mistake is spending a lot of money buying organizing products, but not taking the time first to sort and purge. “It is time consuming, but necessary,” says O’Connor.

Kathleen’s pick: “Nothing says ‘spring is here’ to me more than my garage ‘winter-summer swap.’

Getting the snow blower, snow gear, and holiday decorations out of sight and replacing them with patio cushions, summer toys, and garden tools is one of my biggest joys! I take inventory of what we have, what we need, and what we can donate.”

House 2 Home says the garage is a great place to begin, using bins and shelving to keep it all clearly organized.

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Quick hacks from Tidy Nest co-owner Shannon Krause n Decluttering: Store items you’re uncertain about out of sight and set a reminder to check in with yourself in a few weeks. If you haven’t missed them, it’s time to donate. n Storing: Use clear weathertight bins for long-term storage to easily see what’s inside and protect your belongings from moisture and pests. n Clothes: Rotate your wardrobe each season, ensuring your easy-to-access clothes are relevant to the current weather. n Car: Clean out your car and replace the snow brushes for the picnic blanket, discard old receipts and food wrappers, and remove all contents from your car console.

Cleaning the energy Melanie Norman is a Feng Shui practitioner who owns Red Dragon Consulting Group in Wilton.

With a background in Chinese medicine, her spring cleaning focuses on clearing out the old energy (called qi) to help the renewing qi flow. “Spring signifies a fresh start, and that is why deep cleaning is so important,” says Noman, who suggests clearing clutter from the four most important areas of your home: around the door you mainly go in and out, your bedroom, your office, and your stove.

Melanie’s pick: “My favorite cleaning tool is a broom - to get places the vacuum cleaner can’t! I also love diffususing essential oils. Eucalyptus is wonderful for our breathing; rosemary is perfect for the kitchen; and rose adds a romantic scent to the bedroom.”

Stepping outside When it comes to spring cleaning outside your house, Young’s Fencing and Landscaping garden expert and sales manager Anne Uecker recommends using March to remove debris and dethatch, and April to aerate your lawn and put down lime and grass seed. “Spring is my favorite time of year,” says Uecker. “I can’t wait to get outside and start turning over the soil in my gardens.” Uecker says it’s best to wait until Mother’s Day to plant flowers, limiting the potential for frost.

Anne’s pick: “My favorite spring plants are definitely daffodils. They are happy little signs of warmer days to spend outside in the garden. Adding compost to all my vegetable and flower beds always gives them a boost, and I follow up with mulch in June to keep the weeds at bay.”

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C Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – Bridging the Gap from Farm to Plate

by Farah Masani

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ommunity Supported Agriculture (CSA) serves as a direct link between consumers and farmers, contributing to the development of a sustainable, nutritious, and transparent local food system. Participants in CSA programs invest by purchasing shares or memberships from farmers at the commencement of the growing season. In return, they receive weekly harvests - a diverse array of farm products including vegetables, fruits, meats, honey, and flowers - over the course of the growing season.

Engaging in a CSA provides consumers with the opportunity to embrace local, diverse, and seasonal eating, bridging the gap between the farm and the plate. Crucially, CSA memberships provide farmers with seed money, a predictable and upfront income, enabling them to plan for the season, invest in essential resources such as equipment and seeds, and navigate financial uncertainties without resorting to high-interest loans. This model ensures a dependable revenue stream for farmers, a consistent stable market for their produce and

safeguards the continued existence of farming operations. Consumers, in turn, receive fresh, locally grown produce with a reduced carbon footprint that is not only in season, but also boasts higher quality and nutritional value due to its proximity to harvest.

Variety and diversity characterize CSA offerings, introducing members to a wide range of foods and encouraging a diverse, seasonal diet. This diversity extends to the community itself, fostering connections among CSA members and providing opportunities for on-farm events, creating a genuine sense of belonging to a food community.

The direct connection to farmers is another advantage, allowing consumers to inquire about growing practices and make informed choices aligned with their values. CSA’s environmental benefits include a reduction in carbon emissions and a diminished environmental footprint by minimizing the need for longdistance transportation.

In essence, CSA represents

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rotational grazing from spring to fall, the animals graze on full pasture, while winter months see them housed in open shelters with hay and non-GMO corn silage from Ox Hollow Farm. The farm offers Meat CSA shares in half (50 lbs.) or full (100 lbs.), distributed over 5 months, with pickups in 10 or 20 pounds increments.

For a more flexible option, the Ox Box, priced at $100, offers a variety of meats and cuts. Convenient pickups are available at Westport and New Canaan Farmers Markets. Learn more about available memberships at www.oxhollowfarmct.com

Community Supported Agriculture is beneficial for both the farmer and the consumer. Farmers receive the economic support they need to continue and consumers are rewarded with in-season, locally harvested fresh produce.

a win-win scenario, promoting local agriculture, fostering community connections, and ensuring access to fresh, nutritious, and ethically produced food.

The Hickories With a mission to grow safe and nutritious products with respect for the soil, animals and people, The Hickories (136 Lounsbury Road Ridgefield) has been growing food for over 250 years. The Brewsters have been stewards of their land since 1936 and produce certified organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, pork, lamb, and eggs. The Hickories offer a Spring, Summer, and Fall CSA with a discounted price for purchasing all three

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at once. Under the leadership of Dina Brewster, connecting people to the land is an important focus at the farm. Visit www.thehickories.org to explore their offerings and programs.

Ox Hollow Farm Although a bit outside of the 068 in Litchfield County, Ox Hollow Farm (478 Good Hill Road Woodbury) was established in 1997 by Stephanie and Mark Maynard and operates as a family-centered, diversified farm. Their core mission is to provide allnatural, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free pasture-raised Angus beef, pork, and poultry products, including seasonal turkeys. Using

Wells Hill Farm (WHF) Wells Hill Farm (43 Wells Hill Road Weston) is all about sustainable farming.

Owner Michelle Fracasso uses companion herbs and flowers strategically in their gardens to tackle pests and support beneficial insects. Recognized by Aspetuck Land Trust, WHF received the Native Landscape of the Year award for planting hundreds of native plants and trees to support biodiversity. Michelle emphasizes mindful input choices, using on-site trees and rocks for her garden structures. WHF sells to restaurants in Fairfield County and offers a 15-week CSA tailored for a family of four. The 15-acre farm is open to the public by appointment, featuring garden harvests, rotating chicken coops, and a sheep/goat barn. Animals contribute to fertilizing pastures, enriching compost, and keeping weeds in check. Find out more information about Wells Hill Farm at www.wellshillfarmweston.com Rolling Hill Organic Farm If you’re not ready to commit to a full CSA program, you can still enjoy the farm fresh goodness. Rolling Hill Organic Farm in Freehold, NY, offers weekly farm share preorders for pick-up in Wilton Town Center every Wednesday. Farmer Jason Long, a former Wilton resident and dedicated organic farmer, brings you a bounty of organic, nutrient-dense produce cultivated across 13 acres along with pasture-raised eggs and whole chickens. For more information email Jason at jwinlong1075@ gmail.com or @rollinghillorganicfarm.

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by Roger Garbow

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T Francois Sicard leans on the rear wing of the N.A.R.T. Ferrari 512 BB/LM at Daytona. Above: Sicard in his garage with his personal 308 GTB Vetroresina which he is restoring.

here’s a saying that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Ridgefield’s Francois Sicard might be the epitome of that ethos. For seven decades, the renowned Ferrari mechanic/ race engineer/restorer has been in high demand, preparing and caring for the most coveted vehicles from the legendary Italian sportscar manufacturer. At 85, Sicard is still working five days a week, maintaining one of America’s finest private Ferrari collections.

There are few global brands more valuable or recognized than Ferrari. On a recent trip to Rome, my wife and I stepped into a Ferrari boutique and were greeted by a chic staff that wouldn’t be out of place in the world’s finest hotels. Like most other luxury brands, the clothing and collectibles on display were pricey, but available to anyone with enough cash. The cars on the other hand are much less accessible, especially the race cars from Ferrari’s storied past. When these rare collectibles do trade hands, they

command stratospheric prices that climb higher with each passing year. The recent and quite excellent Ferrari movie gives a look into some of these special machines.

Francois Sicard was born in Vietnam but grew up in France where he began racing motorcycles as a young man. Wanting to become an auto racing driver, his father encouraged him to first learn the mechanical side so he would have a full understanding of how cars and motorcycles worked—and more importantly—how to fix them. The young Sicard was a fast learner and within two years had his professional certification as a mechanic. After a two-year stint in the Army, Sicard got a job with Mercedes-Benz in Paris. “After six months, they sent me to school in Stuttgart, where I learned to prepare rally cars.”

From there, Sicard worked with DKW Auto Union in rally racing and then went to Le Mans with a the DKW Auto Union he built. While working for a Maserati Le

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Mans team in 1965, Sicard was introduced to Italian-American Luigi Chinetti. Chinetti immediately hired Sicard to work on his Le Mans Ferraris and sent him to the Ferrari school, where “I learned on the production lines in Modena and Maranello.” The largerthan-life Chinetti was the US importer of Ferrari and ran the North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.), out of his shop in Greenwich. After finally getting a visa in 1968, Sicard came to the US and worked for Chinetti in Greenwich. “During the week I worked on customer cars, and on the weekends the N.A.R.T. racers.”

Sicard worked on everything from sports cars to Can-Am, and from Formula 5000 to Formula 1, during a period when motorsports was at its most thrilling, and most deadly.

Between 1960 and 1980, more than 180 professional race drivers were killed. Including drivers that Sicard worked with like Pedro Rodriguez who perished in 1971 in a Ferrari 512 in Germany. But the death that shook him the hardest was that of Francois Cervert.

The young, handsome Cervert was not only an immense talent, but he was extremely likeable.

Sicard was Cervert’s mechanic in the Can-Am series. When I asked Sicard what his most rewarding race was, he quickly responded that it was Cervert’s thrilling 1972 drive to the podium at Laguna Seca in the McLaren M8F. “We had blown up two engines in qualifying so we had to start in last position.” Watching Cervert slice through the field, “it was the best race I saw in my life.” Less than a year later, Cervert was killed in a horrific crash at the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. With that, Sicard walked away from competitive racing, eventually opening his own business in 1979.

One of the biggest concerns of most vintage car owners is how to keep them running into the future. Sicard is doing his part to pass on his vast knowledge and skills to a younger generation. More than a decade ago, Sicard took on an apprentice, Tom Yang, who has gone on to open his own Ferrari restoration business.

Each year, the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival honors a specific automotive marque Top: Sicard (left) competing in 1965 French Rally. Left: Sicard (center) at Bonneville in 1974. Paul Newman and three other drivers set multiple records.

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Top: Sicard working on Gregg Young’s Surtees TS7 in 1971. Bottom left: Sicard refuels a 365 GTB4 Daytona, at Daytona. Bottom right: With Pam at the Goodwood Revival.

or a renowned collector with their cars displayed under the main tent. For the 2023 event, Greenwich resident Larry Auriana was the honoree. Auriana has amassed one of the world’s most impressive collections of rare and significant Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Maseratis. He trusts one man to maintain his cars: Francois Sicard.

Leading up to the Lime Rock event, Sicard pulled off the herculean task of preparing a staggering 17 cars to be shown.

Since they first met, Sicard and his lovely wife Pam have traveled the world in pursuit of automotive and motorsports experiences. In 1973, Sicard was partners at Touring Motors East, a Ferrari repair shop in Westport, which happened to be Pam’s home town. After returning from an extended trip to her mother’s native Holland, Pam got a job as a waitress at Westport’s Davey Jones restaurant (now the Black Duck). The Ferrari shop happened to be right across the street. Pam’s family was

in the automotive business, so like Sicard, she was also an avid auto enthusiast. After meeting, they soon became a couple and were traveling to races together. Having both spent time in Ridgefield over the years, they decided to move to town in the late seventies, into the wonderful house they still live in today, where they quickly became part of the community. Pam even managed “Books on the Common” for 12 years back in their old location.

While Sicard no longer works in professional motorsports, he and Pam still love cars and racing. Events they’ve attended are an ultimate automotive enthusiast bucket list: Monaco, Indy, Le Mans, Goodwood, Silverstone, Amelia Island, Lake Como, Audrain, Pebble Beach, etc. After all these years, neither of them is pumping the brakes. Sicard is still turning wrenches on Ferraris, and Pam can be found at Southwest Café, happily waiting tables.

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Colin

Qui

by Julia Bruce

O68 You’ve been on TV (SNL and Comedy Central), movies (Trainwreck and Grown-Ups) and Broadway with your own show. Did you always see yourself in the entertainment business and which do you prefer, stand-up or acting?

CQ I’ve been drawn to stand-up since I first began. I’ve always loved making people laugh and with stand-up, there’s the instant gratification of getting the laugh right away. The growth as a performer comes from getting up there night after night - every show can be a different experience.

O68 How has the stand-up comedy world changed since you first started?

CQ I think it has both evolved and devolved. The path now is somewhat easier. Because of social media, you are the industry, there’s no gatekeeper so – for better or for worse - you can get your material directly out to the public.

O68 In this age where people always seem to be worried about saying things that aren’t politically correct, are there any comedy topics that you personally feel are off-limits?

CQ No, I think all topics can and should be discussed. I think people need to remember that this is the

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inn entertainment industry – we are comedians, not politicians or policy makers. If someone doesn’t like what a comedian is saying, they need to keep it in perspective and remember we’re here to entertain and make you laugh. We’re not leading the charge or changing the world with our jokes.

O68 What’s your writing process – do you have writing/comedy colleagues that you collaborate with? What do you think makes good comedy?

CQ No, it’s a pretty solitary experience for me. I think it’s important to keep your material protected. The only way to test it out is in front of an audience.

I think good comedy is talking about a topic that people are familiar with, but you make them look at it in a completely new way. Also, there’s a difference between a telling a funny story and doing stand-up. In stand-up comedy, you need that ending, that punchline to define it.

O68 What can people expect from your Colin Quinn: Live show on April 12th at the Ridgefield Playhouse?

Bonus question – is it true that you hate sourdough bread?

CQ Obviously, people can expect to laugh. There’s a lot of commentary on social media and how it is negatively affecting society. And yes, I can’t stand sourdough. I was having this delicious meal in San Francisco and the only bread they offered was sourdough – ruined the meal. I’m still mad about that and it was 37 years ago.

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PARTNERSHIP

A Strut Towards Empowerment, Acceptance, and Truth

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n the landscape of contemporary theater, where narratives often mirror the complexities of the world we live in, Kinky Boots still emerges as a glittering gem, exuding importance and relevance in today’s ever-evolving society. Penned by the unparalleled duo of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots is a musical masterpiece and will open at ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) of Connecticut on May 23. The show transcends the footlights and has become a symbol of empowerment, acceptance, and the need for change.

Left and above, the original company of Kinky Boots.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy.

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Billy Porter as “Lola” in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy.

Kinky Boots (the musical) is based on a true story and was inspired by the 2005 film of the same name. The show takes place in Northern England, where, in the midst of economic uncertainty and the demise of his father’s cherished business, Charlie Price is thrust into the role of a reluctant savior; a story that is emblematic of the modern struggle of balancing one’s personal dreams with familial obligations.

Enter the flamboyant Lola, a drag artist who challenges traditional gender norms. As Charlie contemplates giving up entirely, it is Lola’s unwavering refusal to accept defeat which serves as a rallying cry for resilience and creativity. The working partnership between Lola and Charlie embodies the essence of inclusivity. Together, they breathe life into the ailing shoe factory and inadvertently dismantle preconceived notions and prejudices. Their success is not only in the revival of a business but also in challenging ingrained beliefs and fostering an environment where diversity is accepted and celebrated. Lola and Charlie, seemingly disparate individuals, discover that their journeys towards authenticity unite them in a shared pursuit of truth.

“At its heart, Kinky Boots tells us that sometimes the best way to fit in is to stand out,” says ACT of CT’s Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine. “The show encourages us to celebrate our uniqueness and to break free from societal expectations. It’s a joyful musical and one that I am very proud to be able to produce and present at our theater.”

Grappling with issues of identity, discrimination, and acceptance, Kinky Boots serves as a rallying cry for change, sparking conversations about the importance of

diversity and inclusion. The show stands as a testament to the transformative power of storytelling, urging all of us to confront our own biases and to foster a sense of empathy and understanding.

Fierstein’s script, along with the brilliance of the iconic Cyndi Lauper, makes for thrilling theater. Of the show’s music, Bryan Perri (ACT of CT’s Resident Music Supervisor) says, “I was lucky enough to grow up listening to Cyndi Lauper’s music on my double tape deck boom box. Her singular musical style shines in her original songs for Kinky Boots in ways that will delight existing fans and create new ones!”

Nathan Peck, who performed in the original Broadway production of Kinky Boots, will direct/choreograph the production. Nathan says, “Kinky Boots is the 25th longest running show in Broadway history and that is because of its compelling story of fathers and sons, following your passion, and acceptance of self and others. After its Broadway closing, the show continues to entertain and move audiences all around the world, a testament to the show’s heart, energy, and remarkably uplifting story and music. Cyndi Lauper’s words in the musical’s finale sum it up the best: You change the world when you change your mind.”

In a world where the struggle for acceptance and equality continues, Kinky Boots invites audiences to join the revolution of self-discovery, tolerance, and celebration of diversity. In every strut and every note, Kinky Boots reminds us that change is not only possible, but necessary, making it an enduring musical masterpiece for our time.

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Foodies Cooks Nook in Wilton carries a wide selection of knives at variety of price points to meet all budgets. They also stock all kinds of tools and gadgets to help streamline your cooking process.

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...With a Das h tion o f mp J o Gu

Kitchen Essentials

Foodies

Gadge ts a nd

by Aline Weiller Photos by Panosnaps LLC

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very cook likes to up their game. Now 068 residents can do just that by tapping local resources for the hottest accessories, creative cookbooks, and guidance from the culinary-inclined.

Should your kitchen lack stellar knives, swing by Cooks Nook in Wilton for the perfect remedy. According to Sales Manager, Sanjay Dipchand, “Japanese knives hold their edges longer.” The store stocks a range of knives (that they’ll sharpen on Saturdays) sporting varying price points from the higher-end Spyderco and Shun, to the affordable Victorinox paring and utility knives. Their aisles also boast a vast selection of bestselling handy tools: CDN digital meat thermometers, Norpro garlic presses, and Kuhn Rikon vegetable peelers. Of their all-season charcuterie boards — Maison de Fromage is both wallet-friendly and a customer favorite. For the grill masters in the house, Dipchand suggested EVO oil sprayers (aerosol free), Brushtech grill cleaners (no loose wires), and flavorful cedar planks by Outset to spice up spring outings.

Wiltonite Wendy Slater— nutritionist by day and home cook by night — dishes on her go-to appliance: a Pampered Chef Food Chopper. Slater chiefly uses it “to chop fruit, nuts, and vegetables,” adding, “the chopper is amazing for dicing onions and garlic — an easy way to add flavor to no sodium meals.”

Bakers need the best basics as well. “You need a well-stocked kitchen with your pans,” attests Elizabeth Eckardt, Owner of Ridgefield’s Elizabella’s Bake Shop. A much-frequented Bailey Avenue spot, Elizabella’s offers soughtafter hostess gifts, super supplies, and an array of cookies, petit fours, French macarons, and special-order cupcakes for the sweet tooth set. Eckardt suggests “having both 8 and 9-inch pans, such as those from Nordicware’s Nonstick Naturals line, plus Proform’s springform pan — ideal for “cheesecakes and the Elizabella’s Bake Shop in Ridgefield has useful, as well aesthetically appealing, kitchen and baking supplies to make sure all your home bakes turn out perfect.

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y

Ridgefield’s Books on the Common offers a wide variety of cookbooks for the home chef.

From the Big Green Egg grill to smaller necessities such as spices, Ridgefield Hardware has you covered.

like where crusts are pressed into the pan.” The Great British Bake Off and Downton Abbey fans will be thrilled to find that Mason Cash bowls — featured on both shows — grace Elizabella’s shelves. The diamond-patterned Cane Collection, highlighted on television, are dishwasher and microwave safe, available in different sizes, and Eckardt says, “are the right weight.” More advanced bakers can purchase an 8-piece cake decorating set from Ateco and different pastry bag tips from Nordicware — being sure to use smaller tips for cake and decor, and larger ones for stuffing cannolis.

Yum. Small and large whisks from the brand, RSVP, are also keepers. In addition, the owner swears by LorAnn Organic Madagascar Vanilla Extract and Vietnamese Cinnamon. Eckardt also doled out some baking best practices: 1) Use only metal measuring items for dry ingredients, and metal or glass for wet; 2) Go through your recipes, making sure you have every ingredient (check expirations dates); 3) Keep spices away from the heat.

Around the corner at Ridgefield Hardware, shoppers can find heavy duty help for inside the kitchen or out. Pre-seasoned cast iron skillets by Lodge are reasonably priced and perennial sellers, as are deep dish pans from Grill Mark. Manager Sarah Scott, remarked, “Pizza is what’s happening,” making versatile pizza stones by Ooni or Gozney fun finds.

Scott added, “Sauces, rubs, and spices are very popular,” pointing to their multi-shelf selection

of products from Traeger to Big Green Egg to Jack Daniels’ lines.

Longtime Ridgefielder, co-owner of The Rare Wine Company, and bona fide foodie, Blake Murdock, believes in “gadgets that are multi-purpose.” His top tip — a “Microplane Fine Stainless Cheese Grater which I also use for ginger or garlic.” Murdock also can’t live without his Cuisinart DLC-10 for “shredding brussels sprouts to sauté or to puree chickpeas for thicker sauces.”

For curious chefs seeking innovative and inspriratinal cookbooks, Books on the Common on Main Street in “The Ridge” had some thoughts. Staffer Jacqui Ellin gave a thumbs up to Big Heart, Little Stove by Erin French, Jamie Oliver’s One: Simple OnePan Wonders, Dinner: Changing the Game

by Melissa Clark, any Ina Garten title (her latest, Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook) and especially, The Lost Kitchen

by Erin French. What sets The Lost Kitchen apart is how it inspired a Maine restaurant by the same name that requires “reservation by postcard.” Ellin noted customers were most drawn to cookbooks that“included narratives and photos.”

Rest assured, stores in the 068 have everything needed for home cooks to create their own finest fare and mouthwatering memories. Sometimes, the best recipe for a dream kitchen is a winning combination of gadgets and gumption…with a dash of joy.

•

Gift Medical Spa Open the Door to New Health Regeneration Dear 068ers: Surprisingly, my articles are not written with the help of AI!!! LOL. s early as the 1500’s, doctors in Britain , knew that smoking was associated with disease and early death. The issue for the Monarchy was to either let the tobacco plantations in Virginia fail, or market cigarettes to the British people. Smoking became quite the fad during the 1500’s in Britain.

In an eerily similar way, most of the foods we eat today are highly processed. Meaning that additional sugars, preservatives, antibiotics, salts, hormones, and more are laden in our food. Our government surely knows that ingesting these products are associated with chronic disease and early death. Clearly, we would not want to hurt the food industry. Welcome back to the 1500’s.

My point being, please do not look to government or medical insurance as a guide to your health. Medical care is increasingly under pressure from Big Pharma and hospital corporations. Young doctors are being indoctrinated into a system that didn’t exist 30 or 40 years ago. Today, many physicians are disallowed from being able to work independently from the hospitals they serve. Yes! It appears George Orwell’s books 1984 is upon us.

That said, if you do not consider yourself a chicken to be used, if you are a fighter, that wants to fight the good fight, if you are an independent thinker and you can appreciate real value in aesthetic medical care, if you want caring doctors with multi-disciplinary comprehensive knowledge, if you want comfortable care, if you want real results, if you want real brand products that are not shipped through South America or Europe (which can lead to loss of potency or changes in the chemical structure) - please come to the Gift Medical Spa. We specialize in natural methods of producing collagen for anti-aging - using Morpheus 8 for face and neck, Facetite, Morpheus Body, and Bodytite. These procedures, in combination with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), enrich collagen production under the skin, revealing a younger you.

We also use PRP to thicken the hair on top of your head. If you want a luscious head of hair, PRP is the way to go. Nothing in a bottle can be as effective, and also natural.

ADVERTORIAL

A

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Yes! We can keep the hair on top of your head, and also remove it from unsightly areas on the rest of your body.

Our XL Vascular laser is great for rosacea and melasma sufferers, and so much more.

There is a new world of care at the Gift Medical Sp. Using our cutting-edge protocols, we can improve your health span and life span. Simply put, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. Let us open the door to a new vista of health regeneration.

Now, you don’t have to live in Loma Linda, California, anymore. We, here at the Gift Medical Spa, are planning on creating a new Blue Zone, right in Downtown Ridgefield.

Your author, Dr. Sciarrino, is a graduate of Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He went to Emory Dental School & New York Medical College and did his residency and finished as Chief of Surgery in 1988. He has had a career at Stamford Hospital & private practice for over 30 years. He is also an anesthesiologist, and plans to continue being of service to others, throughout his retirement, as long as he continues to produce ATP (energy). He considers himself a surgeon, but most importantly, a conceptualist.

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www.thegiftmedspa.com 203-806-9250 • 392 Main St., Ridgefield, CT

March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 67

Is That A Thing?

RUCKING

Awesom

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Is That A Thing?

Weighted backpacks and sandbags are both used while rucking. Forge Ahead hosts hikes several times a month in warmer weather and once a month during the colder months.

by Erik Ofgang

me!

G

enerally speaking, when you describe someone as having a weight on their shoulders, it’s not a good thing, but when you’re talking to Mike McManus that all changes.

The Ridgefield resident is the founder of the Forge Ahead Rucking Club. In case you’re wondering what the…eh…ruck that is, rucking is a form of exercise inspired by military training that involves walking or hiking while carrying weight — its name is inspired by the “rucksacks” carried by members of the military.

If you’re looking for motivation to give it a try know this: rucking will increase your heart rate and allow you to burn a comparable amount of calories to a sprinter.

“They’re going to get their heart rate up by sprinting. You’re going to get your heart rate up by carrying weight on your back,” says McManus. He adds rucking provides great training for the work he does as a member of the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department.

To share his love of rucking and promote better physical and mental health overall, McManus formed Forge Ahead. The club meets several times a month during the warmer months and about once a month throughout the winter. You can learn about the club’s upcoming rucking events at its website, forgeahead.info, or on Instagram or Facebook @Forgeaheadllc. New members and participants are always encouraged and while rucking may seem strange to those new to the sport, it is more accessible and sustainable than running.

Many club members bring backpacks and weights specifically designed for rucking. McManus has some rucks to give, he provides spare equipment for newbies

to the sport. The company GORUCK is a leading provider of such gear. In addition, people are sometimes able to use weights and a backpack they already own, but not every backpack is suited to rucking.

“I would recommend using one that has one of those laptop slots because you want something that is going to hold weight high and tight,” McManus says. Another low-cost option to get started is just carrying sandbags as you walk. McManus also brings some of those to rucks hosted by Forge Ahead.

Newcomers to the activity often wonder how much weight to carry. The general recommendation to start with a weight roughly equal to about a sixth or 16 percent of your body weight, McManus says. “If you want to build over time, you should build up to about a third of your body weight.”

How fast should you walk? The goal is to get to Zone 2 cardio. “Generally, that’s about 60-70 percent of your maximum heart rate,” McManus says. For most of us, that means we’d be able to carry on a conversation with someone, but that person would still hear us taking regular deep breaths.

Moderation is a key to rucking and this part of what drew McManus to it initially.

A lifelong fitness enthusiast and former Division I football player at Marist College, McManus used to run to relieve stress. To avoid injuries, he turned to rucking. He reminds himself and others that sometimes less weight and a shorter distance can be highly effective as well. “You don’t want to overdo it on any one workout,” McManus says. For McManus and many others, the benefits of rucking both physically and mentally are a weight worth shouldering.

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March/April 2024 • www.068magazine.com • 69

Shout Out

A

Picture Perfect Event

by Gerri Lewis

B

eth Schneider, board member of the Wilton Arts Council (WAC) and Chair of FOCUS ’24, likes to tell the story of a shy boy whose older and younger brothers were the shining stars of the family because they excelled at sports. The middle brother’s talents leaned more toward the arts and because he hadn’t yet found his stride, he was timid and lacked confidence. When he received a call saying his entry won a prize in FOCUS, the annual photography exhibit organized by WAC, his mother said it was as if someone flipped a light switch on.

There have been so many positive stories over the twenty-three years of FOCUS which is one reason Schneider keeps pouring her energy into the yearly event.

Last year sixty-six photographers from nineteen different towns in Connecticut and New York participated in FOCUS, which is open to adults, high school students and youths (from the time they can hold a camera through eighth grade.) Schneider worries that they lost some momentum with the kids, a group she has a soft spot for, due to the hiatus they were forced to take during the pandemic. This year, WAC received a generous grant from the Wilton Kiwanis Foundation in order to focus on luring more high school and youths to participate in FOCUS ’24.

For many kids, she says, this is a life changer when they find their talents recognized. Schneider has helped organize the event for the past 20 years and what keeps her going is the transformation she sees in the young people who participate. One young entrant went on to have a one-person show in Wilton which Schneider calls, “quite a big first for an eighth grader.” Even those who don’t win take pride like the youth whose most prized possession is her name tag from the reception listing her as PHOTOGRAPHER. “This can change a kid’s life,” says Schneider.

FOCUS ‘24

P

Winning youth photos from FOCUS ‘23. Top, Eleuthera by Charles Lukens.

Middle, The Misty Woods by Zachary Weiss. Bottom, The Watch by Megan Case.

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hotographers may enter their photos on March 15 and 16, 2024. The exhibit runs from Saturday, March 23 through Friday, April 26, 2024. A reception with an awards presentation is open to the public at Wilton Library on April 5 from 6:00-7:30.

Complete entry details can be found on the Wilton Arts Council website (www.wiltonarts.org.)

The Wilton Arts Council (WAC) is the official arts agency for the Town of Wilton and organizes FOCUS annually with the goal of showcasing photographers’ work and promoting appreciation of the photographic arts.

Shout Out

In the Heart of

Georgetown PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUGIAN STUDIO, GILBERT & BENNETT MFG. CO. COLLECTION, AND TOWN OF REDDING, AND REDDING CT HISTORY PROJECT

by Kate Perry

T

he Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill has been an anchor in Georgetown since it was first built to house the burgeoning G&B Wire business in the early 1800s. The charming village of Georgetown, located where Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, and Wilton meet, was a mill town since those early years up until the late 1980s when the mill shut its doors. After redevelopment plans fell apart during the 2008 financial crisis, the property languished in the courts for over a decade until the Town of Redding, where the mill and the commercial area of Georgetown are located, regained ownership. Fast forward two years, and a dedicated committee has

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been working to develop remediation plans (there’s a lot less clean-up needed than most think!), stabilize the buildings, and improve site aesthetics, culminating in a wellresearched annual report that was released to the town this past winter. The committee’s report, spearheaded by town resident and committee chair Amy Atamian and supported by the local nonprofit Georgetown Village Restoration, Inc., lays out specific — and realistic — recommendations for the next five years in anticipation of a more comprehensive redevelopment in keeping with the town’s ideals and community needs.

Among the recommendations are allowing

public access with a pond-facing park, making incremental improvements to the historic mill buildings, and reconnecting the site to both Georgetown’s Main Street and Branchville, a Ridgefield hamlet, all of which would benefit the area in the more immediate future.

The committee, along with many residents in the area, envisions turning the wire mill property into a community asset yet again through careful, thoughtful planning.

While it will take time and patience to get there, there is much hope to be found in the unique Wire Mill property in the heart of Georgetown.

Shout Out

A Place For

EVERYONE

by Gerri Lewis

W

Above, Jeroen and Valerie van Beek and Rich and Jen Carter in the Lodewick Children’s Library. Below, Marcie and Peter Coffin outside the library.

Photo credit - Mary Harold.

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ith seven hundred daily visitors, 190 monthly programs and sometimes feeling as busy as Disney World on spring break, the Ridgefield Library is where you might attend Medicare workshops, lectures on AI, art and culture programs, multi-genre book clubs, tech and STEAM makers classes, small business programs, and even chair yoga. In 2023 alone, one thousand children let their imaginations run wild in the award-winning summer reading program. A quick look at the library webpage tells it all—there is something for everyone of all ages.

This year marks the tenth anniversary since the opening of the “new” library.

The ambitious undertaking expanded it to 44,000 square feet at a cost of approximately twenty million dollars and was meticulously planned from inception to shovel in the ground.

The outcome, a state-of-the-art library whose designers had enough foresight to create a space that would work well into the future. Planners also included a restoration of the original 1903 Morris Building, never losing sight of the historical vision that started in 1795 with just 150 volumes.

Today’s library is a hub of technology that mainstreams checkout and returns. Movable shelving creates multi-use spaces and allows

for expanded programming and events. It’s also a place to sit in a quiet corner to read or to bring a toddler to listen.

Director Brenda McKinley says the expanded library was made possible by dedicated Ridgefielders like Marcie and Peter Coffin, the 2024 honorees of the Hope H. Swenson Visionary Award, “who believe in the transformational power of the library to enrich the community it serves.”

Peter, a principal at Doyle Coffin Architects, served on the library board for ten years, was chairman for seven years and helped usher the new library through its inception to its completion. He continues to serve on the advisory committee and most recently helped with the Miller Terrace Outdoor space. Marcie, an executive vice president of risk management at Fairfield County Bank, is an active community volunteer, giving time to the library, SPHERE, RVNAhealth and serves on the police commission.

“Today libraries are so much more than books. In my perspective, the library is truly an intellectual and cultural center for all of Ridgefield from young to old,” says Peter.

The Great Expectations Gala honoring the Coffins will be held on Saturday, June 1. For more information contact: jglindenburg@ridgefieldlibrary.org

•

Welcome

Stylin’

Old School

Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee Brings Classic Style to 068

by Julia Bruce

C

harles Moschos has always loved clothes and calls collecting vintage apparel his “biggest hobby.” With the opening of Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee, 346 Ethan Allen Highway, Moschos is turning his passion into a retail destination. Conveniently located in the same coalition as Bluebird Estate Sales and Vixen Hill Vintage. Moschos hopes that his store will add value to the town and fill a void for those shopping for classic well-made clothes - his store carries brands such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Brooks Brothers. Moschos views his vintage apparel as a direct response to the “fast fashion” trend – clothes that are mass-produced with less overhead so they can be sold for lower prices. “Clothing was once made for functionality.

Quality lasts,” he says.

Moschos and his family moved to Ridgefield in 2020 and he initially opened a pop up shop in 2022 in the same space. At that time, his inventory was mainly menswear with only a small offering of women’s clothes.

Now a permanent storefront,

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Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee has a full range of clothes and accessories, all carefully selected to be visually and aesthetically appealing. “I want people to migrate toward what appeals to them, style-wise, not necessarily by size,” says Moschos, noting that sizing can vary dramatically with older pieces. What if someone falls in love with a piece but the fit is wrong? Moschos’ many years in menswear in New York comes in handy. “I can do basic pinning for alterations,” he says. He has paired with My Cleaners, just down Route 7, who will finish the tailoring and return the items back to Ridgefield Vintage. “It really elevates the experience for the customer,” says Moschos.

And what about the “& Coffee”? Moschos admits that in addition to fashion, he has cultivated a keen interest in coffee. He collaborated with Quartertone Roasters – a local father and son team – and created a specialty Ridgefield Vintage blend, a mix of two Columbian beans. His Italian espresso machine is a work of art in and of itself.

Moschos hopes the store will evolve beyond a retail store – he also offers fashion and lifestyle coaching, from business decisions to how to still dress cool as a dad, including a one-on-one personal shopping experience via private appointments.

Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee is currently open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 – 4:00. Follow them @ridgefieldvintage to keep up on events.

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Charles Moschos has transfomed his hobby of collecting vintage clothing into the hippest place to shop in the 068. Below, a glimpse inside Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee, and its complimentary neighbors, Vixen Hill Vintage and Bluebird Estate Sales.

Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee 346 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield, CT (305) 915-3010 ridgefieldvintage.com

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One More Thing | Powered By Fairfield County Bank

The

Moonrise Cartel

T

he Moonrise Cartel is an original folk rock group from Bridgeport, CT stirring the soul with songs that are timeless and universal.

Deeply personal songwriting, incredible vocals, and gorgeous arrangements come together like a sweeping wind over a crashing tide. Memorable lyrics, soaring vocal harmonies, and just the right notes blend together in beautiful alchemy to captivate crowds wherever they step on stage.

The Moonrise Cartel is made up of Al Pascarelli, Stephanie Harrison, Sean O’Reilly, Benj LeFevre and Steve Tobey. themoonrisecartel.com Insta: @themoonrisecartel

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 April will be spotlighted in the May/June issue.

Thank you for supporting the arts in Fairfield County.

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