068 Magazine - March/April 2023

Why Is Art Education Vanishing From Our Culture?

Money Talks

Teaching Your Kids About Finances

Old Wilton Wedded and Widowed in the 1800s

Gardening Get Ready for an Explosion of Color

From Pots to Plots

Noted by Dee Dee Colabella

Iam an artist, it is who I have always been. I believe strongly in the power of the visual arts in our culture and that an artist can be successful in a career where their skills are utilized. I also believe that our educational system should give these creative minds a path to excel in the K-12 educational system.

In WWII, Germany tried to steal and destroy art. Why? Art is a record of our life and humanity that is infinitely accessible regardless of language barriers or cultural differences. Destroying art destroys a record of us. That is why 345 men risked their lives to save tens of thousands of pieces of art and preserve our history. Read more about the Monuments Men in this issue’s Whatever Comes Up

It is tempting to get sucked into the story line that “only certain professions create successful adults and art is certainty not one of them.” But there are thousands of careers that utilize the skills of an artist. The digital world has opened almost unlimited opportunity for marketing and digital arts, and careers like the scientific illustration help to keep visual records of scientific exploration. Careers in gallery management, museum curators, art transporters, restoration experts, art insurance estimators, packaging creators and product designers all depend heavily on the artist. Architects, book illustrators, and 3D-modeling for engineers all use the sketching techniques learned in art classes. Most of what you watch or games you play are born out of an artist’s unique and inventive mind.

Art feeds our souls and preserves the record of our global community. The act of making art can inspire dreamers AND it can still be true that the artist can have a successful career.

Most sincerely,

Owner of 068 Magazine, D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery, RPAC Gallery and the RPAC Art Center & Board Member of ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative

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

Dee Dee Colabella, Jennifer Bradshaw, Kate Perry, Ashley Alt, Julie Hughes, Dylan Miller, Lauri Edgar, Sarah Galluzzo, Rajender Kaur, Roger Garbow, and Gerri Lewis

Lily Fertik Copy Editor

Contributing Photographers

Roger Garbow, Dylan Miller, and New Light Creative Services

Advertising Sales

David Gursky | 914.646.9141 sales@068magazine.com

Advertising & 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

This Issue’s Feature Writers

Leslie Cober

Leslie Cober’s endeavors include accomplished artist, illustrator, designer, author, and curator. Leslie is President of the Society of Illustrators NYC, and for the past 10 years is Curator and Chairperson of the Member’s Exhibit at The Museum of American Illustration. She is a professor at The Fashion Institute of Technology NYC and WCSU CT. Leslie is Education Curator RPAC Art Center & Academy and Curator of NYC Parks Art Culture Fun series. On page #54, Leslie discusses the importance of art in our schools.

Erik Ofgang

Erik Ofgang is the co-author of The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, The Surprising Truth About What’s Actually Good For You and the author of Buzzed: A Guide to New England’s Best Craft Beverages and Gillette Castle: A History. He is a former senior writer at Connecticut Magazine and his work has appeared in the Washington Post, Atlantic, Thrillist and Associated Press. He teaches in WCSU’s MFA in Creative and Professional Writing Program. Erik explores the many services available for adults with disabilities on page #46.

Jana Williams

Jana Williams is a freelance writer who has spent 25 years writing about and promoting health, wellness, biotech, and real estate for many PR & marketing agencies. Her work has been covered by Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, trade publications, and numerous local online and print publications. Jana is an insatiable curiosity seeker and adventurer who wishes her travel budget was larger. On page #38, Jana writes about Soul Sister Travels and the connection between wellness and giving back.

Tom Henske

Tom Henske, a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA Division I Soccer Champion at the University of Virginia, has been a leader in the financial industry for nearly three decades. Using his experience as a financial advisor, 11 years of coaching varsity soccer in CT, and parenting two teenagers, he is now helping parents make their kids money-savvy with his groundbreaking program, Total Cents On page #68, Tom uses his background to write about the topic of talking to your children about money and finances.

Old Wilton

by Julie Hughes

and Widowed Wedded

Two Wilton Women Fight for Autonomy and Acknowledgement

Women today regularly worry how others see them. Instagram filters keep us looking youthful, posts showing healthy, delicious meals make others envy our work-life balances, and spandex shapewear maintains our appearances. But what about women a hundred and fifty years ago?

Wilton women in the late 1800s wanted to seem respectable. A lot hinged on a good reputation; “improper” behavior could ruin everything from a young woman’s marriage prospects to an elderly widow’s financial security. Rather than face the perils of womanhood, some girls did their best to hold onto childhood. Others had no choice but to face society’s judgements head-on.

A practitioner of the former tactic was Agnes “Aggie” Fitch (1854-1942) of Wilton center. Several photographs of Aggie and a scrapbook she kept from the 1870s onward have survived. Aggie’s earliest known photo is a “coming out” portrait of a young woman just entering adulthood and eligible for courtship. Her cheeks are tinted pink to simulate a healthy glow, her dress is dark, practical, and high-necked, and her jewelry signals family wealth, pride in her appearance, concern for punctuality, good stewardship of her possessions (note the watch chain), and the depth of her Christian faith. All of this marks Aggie as well-suited to be a successful mid-Victorian wife and mother. Unlike men’s

portraits from this period, however, Aggie doesn’t hold a book or anything hinting at extensive education or profession. She would have shared this one-of-a-kind daguerreotype, a photograph printed on a piece of copper used in the 1800’s, with family, friends, and prospective suitors.

An anonymous drawing in Aggie’s scrapbook, captioned “Miss Aggie Taggie –chronic condition,” however, provides a different perspective. Unusually, it shows Aggie laying

Left, Agnes “Aggie” Fitch’s coming out daguerreotype portrait which would’ve been shown to prospective suitors. Below, an informal sketch that depicts another side of Aggie’s personality.

down on a couch, facing away from the artist. This view is extremely intimate for the era, surely drawn by a close friend or family member. The humorous title pokes fun at Aggie for what might have been a persistent desire to hide away at home, safe from

humorous clippings about cats and a poem Aggie wrote for a friend, “Maiden that read’st this simple rhyme / Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay.”

Ultimately, Aggie did what society expected – though she took her time about

Episcopal Church, records of her work sewing shirts in Cannondale, census returns, and a reference to part of a house she and her husband Henry once rented from Samuel F. Lambert. Besides these scraps, more insight comes from Susan’s pension file.

society’s expectations. A cat scampers across the room, hinting that slumber will soon be (pleasantly) interrupted and emphasizes Aggie’s apparent childishness and refusal to act her age. Here she is, dressed as a grown woman presumably ready for marriage, yet turning away from the world and lolling about, moments away from playing with her favorite pet.

The contents of Aggie’s scrapbook reinforce this conflicting image of a virtuous young woman stubbornly holding onto childhood. Alongside notices from a Ladies Sewing Society and family news are

it. She married as an “old maid” of 32, had children, remained devoted to her family, and kept up with her sewing.

Fighting for her due support

Another Wilton resident of the time adopted far more direct tactics: Susan Jackson Dulliman (born c. 1820) of Sharp Hill. As a Black woman and a poor Civil War widow, Susan faced additional pressures and prejudices beyond her gender.

No pictures of Susan have survived –all that remains are scattered references to her children in the books of St. Matthew’s

After Henry died at his army camp in 1864, Susan applied for a soldier’s widow’s pension. To qualify she first had to prove her marriage was legitimate. This was tricky as Susan was semi-literate and her last name was spelled inconsistently on different records. Government agents took a dim view of this, but eventually she proved her marriage – and identity – to their satisfaction.

To receive support for two underage children (there were seven total), Susan next had to establish exact birth dates. Black births were irregularly recorded in Wilton’s church registers, and several of Susan’s babies were among those missing. While she and Henry had recorded their children in their family bible, Susan had to rely on something the courts found more persuasive: the testimony of “respectable” white Wiltonians,

Despite initial hesitation to conventional roles, Aggie (left) and her sister Hattie (right) kept up with their knitting and sewing projects.

“Maiden that read’st this simple rhyme/Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay.”

2022 Full Year

Redding:

Single Family Homes Sold: 146

Median Sale Price: $799,950

Median Days on Market: 37

Median List to Sales Price: 100%

Ridgefield:

Single Family Homes Sold: 366

Median Sale Price: $870,000

Median Days on Market: 30

Median List to Sales Price: 101%

Given that we benefit from being so close to New York City and that real estate is by definition a local industry, it makes sense that our markets might not be entirely representative of overall national patterns.

In our local markets, persistent buyer demand and low inventory continue to make this a great time to sell a home.

I’ve built my career as a full-time Realtor® on a passion for quality, a strong work ethic, and a dedication to getting the job done. Call me today if I can help with any of your real estate needs.

Source: Smart MLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, Ridgefield single family homes sold.

Source: Smart MLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, Redding single family homes sold.

Dr. David Willard, midwife Laura Stewart, and neighbor Emmeline Fairchild. All attended Susan’s births, but it was Willard’s patient registers that got Susan her pension.

Thirty years later, Special Examiner A. C. Ridgeway, Bureau of Pensions, arrived in Bridgeport, where Susan had moved, to investigate rumors that she was living “in open and notorious adulterous cohabitation” with her boarder, George Holmes. Such “cohabitation” would put her in violation of an 1882 Act of Congress. Her right to continued support depended on an official evaluation of her chastity.

In the late 1800s, widows were morally suspect. Unlike wives and unwed daughters, no man directly controlled them. Additionally, racist norms insisted that Blacks were sexually licentious and dishonest. Certainly, Ridgeway and his superiors assumed Susan’s relationship with George had to be sexual – and that she was definitely lying about it.

According to Susan’s notarized testimony, Ridgeway bullied her into falsely confessing that she had had “connection” with George and was essentially his wife. She pleaded, “I was so embarrassed and flustered by [Ridgeway’s] manner and language that I was unable to understand what I had sworn to.” Unlike in Wilton, Susan found no “respectable” white allies to testify on her behalf. The government revoked her pension. Susan died sometime later and is buried at St. Matthew’s Cemetery in Wilton.

It is infuriating to read about Susan’s experiences and realize that Aggie Fitch – despite her relative privilege and its insulating power – might have suffered, too, had anything happened to question her reputation. It helps to remember that even though Susan ultimately lost her pension, she fought hard and had Wilton allies. And although Aggie waged a quieter war, she maintained her independence far longer than most. Women like these, and the many generations that followed, are the reason we have so many more freedoms today – even as additional battles remain to be won. •

The Fitch family on the porch of their homestead c. 1885. Rear, left to right, Aunt Harriet Gregory, Mother Sarah Fitch, and unknown. Front, left to right, Hattie, Aggie, Frannie, Richard, Helen Elizabeth (Nellie) Sturges, her sons Frank and Sam, and unknown.

Above, a document proving Susan and Henry’s marriage so that she was able to recieve her widow’s pension. Right, three Fitch sisters, Frannie, Aggie, and Hattie on an afternoon out.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Have You Met?

by Kate Perry

Land

Silvia Erskine’s Passion for Preserving Open Space Keeps Redding Beautiful

LOVER

One of the most defining and beautiful aspects of the Town of Redding is its open green spaces, woodlands, and hiking trails, but not everyone has met Silvia Erskine, co-leader of the Redding Land Trust. Along with co-president Gordon Loery, she has been at the forefront of ushering in a new era for the organization, one of spirited fundraising events, community outreach, and a forward-thinking approach to land stewardship.

Erskine brings enthusiasm and meticulous dedication to these efforts, borne of her great respect for the outdoors and her professional work as an accomplished architect and landscape architect.

Erskine grew up in Westport, where she had the run of the woods right out the back door of her childhood home. “Our property was on the border of Wilton and Weston, and I would walk through our neighbors’ backyards and the Saugatuck River natural area for hours with my black lab, Alex,” she says. In many formative ways it was an idyllic childhood. Time spent hiking sparked a love for Connecticut’s woods and rivers that has

Silvia and her partner Tom at the Redding Land Trust “A Night to Remember,” a delicious dinner that paid homage to Revolutionary times.

Have You Met?

informed both her volunteer work and her professional projects.

Even at a young age Erskine knew she wanted to be an architect. She attended University of Virginia for both her undergraduate degree in architecture and her graduate degree in landscape architecture. “UVA taught me how to think and see perceptively and instilled a strong design ethic,” says Erskine. After stints with notable Connecticut architects, she started her own firm, Erskine Associates, in 1995. She collaborates with clients to craft their dream homes and landscapes with an in-depth, hands-on design process. Her landscape work also includes local municipal parks and educational spaces like Greens Farms Academy and Sacred Heart of Greenwich.

One of her favorite projects is the waterfront Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve in Westport. Erskine and her then business partner Geoff Middeleer worked with the preserve committee and town to design the park, incorporating natural materials and native plants to create an oasis for both pollinators and walkers. They then collaborated with over 100 volunteers to plant the many shrubs, trees, and plantings. “The project was the culmination of years of collaborating and planning. What was a parking lot is now a beautiful space for bird watching and quiet contemplation,” says Erskine.

Erskine’s other passion project has been her home in Redding, which she and her partner Tom Casey share with her mother.

The Redding Land Trust protects over 2,000 acres of land in Redding, Danbury and Bethel, including the Great Ledge, above.

Have You Met?

Originally, mother and daughter planned to create separate homes, but the house and property spoke to both her conservation and architectural impulses. “We decided not to subdivide, but instead added a wing to the existing house. I fell in love with the landscape; our part of Redding Ridge has an open view of the hills to the southwest. I love walking the paths through our meadow; the colors and character change in beautiful and subtle ways through the seasons, and the plant species support a wide variety of bird, insect, and animal life,” she says.

Erskine’s involvement with the Redding Land Trust is another seamless relationship given her background — she was a founding member of the Town of Westport’s Tree Board and served on the Preserve Committee of Devil’s Den — and the organization’s history. The land trust, which recently adopted the apt slogan “Small Town, Big Outdoors,” was founded in 1965 to protect Redding’s green spaces. Today the Redding Land Trust has over 2,000 protected acres with much of the land maintained as hiking trails.

Erskine joined the Redding Land Trust Board of Trustees in 2010 and she and Gordon Loery were made co-presidents several years later. Under their leadership, the land trust has made a conscious and concerted effort to strengthen community

engagement through more robust communications and hosting outdoor events and dinners that residents look forward to each year. By doing so, the organization is sharing its mission and appealing to the next generation.

In the last several years, Erskine, Loery, and Redding Land Trust’s Board of Trustees also launched the “Decade of Stewardship,” an impressive master plan focused on enhancing land stewardship and diversifying land use. The plan calls for further reduction of invasive plants, improving trails, and exploring additional recreational uses of the trails — as well as a call for community feedback and input.

“Silvia is dedicated to preserving the open spaces in Redding while improving access and stewardship of our properties. She always makes time to help the organization and tirelessly works to further our goals, and she has been instrumental in improving community engagement for the land trust,” says Loery.

Erskine’s dedication to our natural world and to stewarding Redding’s abundant open lands has been critical to preserving the town’s character and beauty. Her commitment is inspirational and an asset to the community and, because of the work and attention of Erskine and the Redding Land Trust, Redding residents can revel in our “Small Town, Big Outdoors.” •

Erskine’s design for the Sherwood MIll Pond Preserve received the Honor Award for Municipal and Public Spaces from the CT chapter of ASLA.

Redding Land Trust and Town Open Space Manager John McLeran leads an informative hike in Redding.

Art In The Spotlight

by Ashley Alt

The

of Theater

There is no shortage of artistic inspiration in our 068 New England haven. From galleries on Ridgefield’s Main Street, to inviting storefronts and colorful paintings in restaurants, art abounds. Beyond these obvious displays of art, the thriving theater scene in our area is also a rich source of creative talent, specifically the artistry that is used - from set design to makeup to costuming.

Award-winning makeup artist Amanda Gabbard is particularly spectacular at bringing performers to life in this way, from beautifying actors on the Ridgefield Playhouse stage, to bringing the Broadway Unplugged series of ACT

of CT to life, to transforming people into “gory, horrifying corpses” for Keeler Tavern’s Ghosts of Ridgefield show.

She explains theatrical makeup is “hands down the most dramatic and fun to do.” She enjoys transforming walk-on-roles into the time period reflective of whatever the play calls for, including her work with ACT of CT’s Guys and Dolls musical, which called for 1950s’ fashion style.

“From an enhanced, full strip of lashes to thinly defined eyebrows to rosy cheeks, and finished off with a bright red, pink or berry lip color, that era called for bold and fun,” Gabbard

Far

Below,

Far left top, Melissa Deal Power, Stage Manager for Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, calls the show from backstage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn. Photo by Paulette Layton.

left, bottom, Deborah Burke makes last-minute fixes to Duane Lanham’s costume in the dressing room before going on stage in Rumors at the RTB. Photo by Paulette Layton. Center, Amanda Gabbard was the make-up artist at a photo shoot of Suzanne Brennan by art photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth. Photo by Dylan Miller.

lighting and sound designers and board operators confer in the booth during tech week for An Evening of One Acts at the Ridgefield Theater Barn. Photo by Paulette Layton.

Art In The Spotlight

says. “One of my favorite tricks when doing exaggerated stage makeup is to highlight and outline every feature with a bright white eyeliner, a light shade of concealer, and finish off with bright setting powder.”

She emphasizes that actors must look like the best version of themselves when they’re getting into character, whether they’re walking into an audition for a stage performance or preparing for a TV commercial.

Heavier makeup products such as Dermablend, Era, Dermacol, Ben Nye, and Mac are stage essentials that need to hold up against every type of lighting, sweat, quick changes, and stage kisses. “The stage lights emit a lot of heat,” Gabbard says. “Add a few dance numbers in weighted costumes, plus racing around backstage, and you are a walking sauna! Live stage makeup needs to be able to withstand any and all conditions.” Being up close and personal with the

performers is one thing when applying stage makeup, but what about from the audience’s point of view, especially for patrons seated in the last row? For makeup artists and set designers, all angles and perspectives must be considered.

“When sitting in the audience watching a play or musical, we want to be able to see the performer’s facial expressions no matter how far back we are seated,” Gabbard says. “If the makeup is too light or too subtle, the performer will look flat and washed out.”

For this reason, features need to be “enhanced, highlighted, and bold” through exaggerated contour to define the face, vivid blush to make the face pop, and “bold strokes of eyeshadow both on the lid and in the crease” to create the illusion of larger eyes.

Valerie Henry, a local costume designer who has done work for New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre and Free Shakespeare Company (among others) emphasizes that

Above, fabulous costumes turn the cast into whimsical mermaids in Peter and the Starcatcher, the award-winning play that closed the RTB’s 2021-2022 season. Photo by Pippa Walton. Left, Amanda Gabbard adds a final touch up to Suzanne Brennan at the Udo Spreitzenbarth photoshoot. Photo by Dylan Miller.

Art In The Spotlight

costume design also plays an enormous part in telling the play’s story accurately.

“A costume designer will sit in on rehearsals and talk to the director to get a cohesive feel for the play,” Henry says. “There’s a lot of research to find out what makes the character, including intricate details of their wardrobe that will reflect the character’s personality.”

She provides the example of constructing a garment for a firefighter who has been working in his field for 20 years — needing to craft work pants that tell his story and distressing the fabric on the knees and around the waist band.

Thinking of that character as a true person and getting as realistic as possible is the first thing any wardrobe designer must do. Where do all of these materials needed to make a production a visual success come from? Henry explains it truly is “a modge podge” based on the needs of the play or performance. It ends up being a combination of local fabric makers and fashion houses overseas that may have a certain type of beading or other raw good you’re looking for.

Henry says making things that are historically accurate is equally challenging as it is rewarding, which was the case during her work with Apple TV+’s show Dickinson, where she made Edwardian hoop skirts that reflected the vast social upheaval of the 19th century. “You need the garment to be structurally sound and historically accurate,” she says. “Paying attention to the actor’s skin tone is also very important when considering colors and hues you’re picking out.”

Whether there are racks of costume options or you’re making something from scratch, the goal remains the same — to present the clearest representation of the character so the actor can be completely transformed into his/her role.

When it comes to set design, Ridgefield Theater Barn’s Executive Director Pamme Jones describes the process as a “magical time in production,” explaining there is a whole heap of elements that go into the design process, including adhering to the play’s budget and scheduling for materials and staff to come in and actually

build the set.

Stage sets can be static (staying the same throughout the entire show) or may need to change with every scene, which calls for an extra set of hands backstage that must work quickly. Sometimes, sets need to be multi-level and equipped with custom stairs.

From carpentry and scenic painting to projections and mechanicals, Jones explains the energy and excitement is always palpable. “On the days leading up to production, you will find carpenters, painters, props masters, costumers, and any

number of other production and creative staff racing to have everything done and in place,” she says.

“There is nothing more exciting than that first technical rehearsal, with not-quitedry paint and a hundred other small details completed and coordinated for the first run of the show,” says Jones.

The next time you sit in one of our local theaters, take a moment to appreciate the behind-the-scenes and on-the-stage artistic talent that brings that performance to life. •

Top, cast and crew pitch in to build the set for Enchanted April at the RTB. Middle, Neil Simon’s Rumors ends with a hilarious answer to ‘Whodunnit?’ Bottom, The Marvelous Wonderettes takes us from the 50s to the 60s in musical style at the Ridgefield Theater Barn. Photos by Paulette Layton.

Artist Grants & Scholarships Applications

Artist Grants

ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative strives to change the status of “the starving artist” by providing and subsidizing resident artist opportunities to be used for studio space, material expenses, show applications, and marketing costs to allow an artist to create and show a body of work.

ArtFul will award up to *$15,000 annually for resident artist opportunities.

Scholarships

ArtFul supports both working and aspiring artists in exploring new avenues in their work and receiving additional training. ArtFul offers scholarships for qualified candidates applicable towards workshops, college level training, and masters level training at the institution that best fits the artist.

Scholarships range from *$2,500 to $10,000.

ArtFul artful

DEADLINE TO APPLY: March 31st, 2023

*ArtFul does not direct the funds to any organization. The artist chooses where the money is utilized and is not disclosed at time of application or acceptance.

Work created by Clarice Shirvell, a 2022 Artist Grant Recipient

by Jennifer Bradshaw, Environmental Educator

Dear Ms. Jen,

My husband and I recently bought our first home, and we have big, beautiful hydrangea bushes in our yard, when is the best time to prune them?

-

Kristen W. Ridgefield, CT

Congrats on your new home! Hydrangeas are super popular around here. They are easy to care for and beautiful when in bloom. Typically, they will flower from mid-spring through the late summer or early fall. Some people don’t feel the need

to prune their hydrangeas. However, if you don’t, they will eventually resemble a tangled mass of woody stems and the flowers will become much smaller and not as colorful. If your hydrangeas aren’t blooming, lack of pruning is most often the reason. Pruning, or cutting off parts of the plant that are dead, not only helps to maximize the blooms and promote new growth, but ensures they survive throughout winter. I recommend pruning your hydrangea in the late winter, early spring. During the winter months leaving the dry, tan flower heads makes your landscape look nice, so I wait until March to do any pruning. You should cut ¼” above a bud to redirect growth or shorten branches. You should also cut one or two of the oldest, weakest stems at the base to encourage new growth, which will have better blooms. If your bushes are getting too big, woody, or unruly, you can cut all the stems to the ground - but beware, this means they won’t bloom again until the following year! •

I live near a large lake, and I’ve seen Bald Eagles around more often than usual, is it mating season?

- Mark S. Redding, CT

Bald eagles are by far one of the most majestic birds. If you have ever gotten a glimpse of one out in the wild, they are just incredible! Living near a lake means you have a better chance of having a resident bald eagle than most because their main food source is fish. Bald eagles typically mate for life and their mating season in the northern states begins in January. This mated pair will, in most cases, use the same nest year after year. These nests are quite impressive. Made of large sticks and often lined with plant stalks, moss, lichens, and grass, they measure 4-6 feet across and 3 ft deep. The female will lay 1-3 eggs in February and March and the pair will take turns incubating the eggs for approximately 35-40 days. If you are lucky enough to spot a bald eagle nest, be sure to keep your distance, federal law requires you to stay 330 feet away from these protected beauties!

If you have a nature question, email Ms. Jen at jenniferleebradshaw@gmail.com

by Rajender Kaur

RIFF accepts submissions of films in all genres including animated shorts like The Statue (below) a film submitted by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Salehi Fard.

Below, Joanne Hudson, Founder of the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival, returns after a three hiatus as the Director of RIFF 2023.

The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival Continues to Thrive

hen Joanne Hudson founded the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF) in 2015, it was with the vision to make the world a more compassionate place by sharing stories through cinema, to attract people to picturesque Ridgefield through a well curated film festival and to bring cutting edge films to Ridgefield and neighboring towns. After a three-year hiatus in which she wrote an awardwinning play, Sisters (2020), made two short films, and worked on some feature length screenplays, Hudson is returning as Director of RIFF 2023. RIFF’s original mission - to create bonds of empathy - is more compelling than ever before in the wake of two sequestered years of isolation and anxiety provoked by the pandemic. Further, Hudson’s aspiration of making Ridgefield a destination has proved prescient now that it has been designated as Connecticut’s first Cultural District. RIFF’s vision of a collaborative community of art organizations is shared by many and is thriving in such ventures as “Music at the Mansion” that brings the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and

Hard Shell, Soft Shell, a narrative feature directed by Emma Benestan of France was another memorable submission to this year’s festival.

Lounsbury House together.

In 2016, RIFF brought together ten venues in Ridgefield and 76 independent films from around the world to create the first ever Ridgefield Independent Film Festival. It succeeded in bringing over 1,000 festival goers to Ridgefield and showcased the town’s marquee arts and cultural venues by taking audiences to The Ridgefield Playhouse; The Ridgefield Library; The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum; Keeler Tavern Museum; The Prospector Theater; Ballard Park; The Boys & Girls Club; The Ridgefield Artists’ Guild; and Luc’s Café to view films. Over the years since, these collaborations have consolidated to just a couple of venues and the festival itself was moved from May to October. By 2019,

RIFF had nearly 4,000

attendees. When Covid hit, the festival continued through a hybrid of online and small in-person showings.

Focus on independent films

In 2023, RIFF will be moving back to its original spring dates and the festival will be held in-person from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21. RIFF will be collaborating with at least six town venues, including the Ridgefield Theatre Barn, to promote Ridgefield as a vibrant arts and culture destination. RIFF will open at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday night and take audience members on a film and site tour through the town, from the Playhouse, the Library, the Prospector

Theater, the Ridgefield Theater Barn, and Keeler Tavern Museum, and more, for four days of screenings, panel discussions and parties. The festival will culminate with an award ceremony at Keeler Tavern Museum’s Garden House. Awards in multiple categories will be offered including the Emerging Filmmaker Award which RIFF has been presenting for the past two years.

RIFF 2023 will also return to its original focus of showcasing independent films. To that end, it hopes to restore its popular masterclass series to serve independent film makers who lack the skills and savvy to market their films more successfully. Film distribution is critical to a film’s success and visibility as often it is film distribution companies who decide the film’s title.

Through its site-specific events, workshops, and parties where audiences and filmmakers can mingle, RIFF aims to facilitate valuable networking and community building opportunities for independent film makers. As such, RIFF has paired with the Loundsbury House to create a lounge for filmmakers in town during the festival. In addition, true to the trope of riffing - of creative play and spontaneity that is at the heart of RIFF’s vision - local businesses and restaurants are invited to RIFF along by showing films on walls, TVs or any screening apparatus they may possess. Hudson says the festival is willing to curate films according to the venue and seating.

As a town-wide film festival, RIFF’s goal is to energize everyone to get involved in supporting independent filmmakers and cinema, and to showcase Ridgefield and

Top, left to right, some of the many talented submissions to RIFF 2023: Past Prologue (USA), A Boy of May (Korea), and Hard Shell, Soft Shell (France). Above, the narrative short Subservient by Yaser Barzegar (Islamic Republic of Iran) is another contender for this year’s lineup.

all it has to offer. One of the ways RIFF plans to engage young people is through its High School Internship program which is supported by the Liz and Steven Goldstone Foundation. Unlike most internship programs in town that are restricted to Ridgefield students, RIFF plans to invite students from Bridgeport and Danbury to intern with them. Inviting youth from less privileged communities to learn in a milieu

they might not otherwise have access to and creating opportunities for the youngsters from different economic and racial backgrounds to work with each other is a cornerstone of RIFF’s mission of diversity and social justice.

Hudson’s future vision for RIFF extends much further. She aspires to make RIFF one of the top fifty boutique film festivals in the country, and to establish

Ridgefield an important part of the arts corridor that extends from Katonah in New York to the Berkshires and Williamstown in Massachusetts. She hopes that RIFF will garner Ridgefield the same name recognition that the small towns of San Luis Obispo or Kansas City enjoy through the critically acclaimed film festivals associated with them. For more information, please visit www.riffct.org •

What is good design

At the Gift Med Spa, we are very proud of our depth of treatment and care, for our aesthetic clients. We want you to look your best and we want you to look like you. In order to achieve that, we believe that many times less is more and that natural processes of revitalization are best.

Utilizing innovation treatments such as Morpheus 8 & PRP (Stem Cell therapy), we can get you as close as possible, naturally, using the elements of your own body to rejuvenate the skin, without surgery.

If you do require surgery, we use the most advanced form of surgery to yield vastly improved results. This is called FaceTite, AccuTite for the face, neck, and eyes.

We can approach the body nonsurgically as well. Through the use of medication, TrueSculpt (24% apoptosis of fat cells, with skin tightening) and Accufit (for true muscle sculpting), and of course exercise. Most of the time, we can get you there.

For those truly resistant people, we utilize a surgical procedure called BodyTite.

Last, but not least, our fabulous facials. If you are looking for flawless skin, we can go beyond anything you have ever experienced with our Diamond Glow Facial, to rejuvenate your skin with hydration/antiaging elements. If radiance is what you are looking for, our Photo Facials are the bomb. We utilize Cutera Green Genesis for skin types I-IV & laser Genesis for skin types IVVI, packages to give you exactly that. Beyond that, Rosacea, Melasma, Telangiectasias, can become a thing of the past for you.

The Gift Medical Spa is celebrating its second anniversary in Ridgefield, CT. East meets West in the integrative medical landscape of the MedSpa. Dr. Sciarrino went to Emory College, Emory Dental School, New York Medical College, and Westchester Medical Center. He has over 25 years of experience as a Maxillo-Facial surgeon at Stamford Hospital and has distilled this

experience into the Gift Medical Spa.

Dr. Jing Zhang a graduate of Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, is a Neurologist, who strictly practices Acupuncture at The Gift. Acupuncture improves blood flow, corrects muscular dysfunction releasing the flow of healing, giving energy back to our bodies.

Now you don’t have to live in the Sardinia, Italy or La Jolla, California to have a long healthy life. Dr. Sciarrino seeks to create a “Blue Zone” right here in downtown Ridgefield. Through the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT), acupuncture, and IV therapy, he wishes to enrich the health, vitality, and longevity of all those interested in living their best life.

The Gift Med Spa is not your grandma’s day spa. The future is here now. Through the use of HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) and controlled infusions IV therapy, we are currently improving people’s health spans and we believe life spans as well. Everything we do is backed through science-driven technologies, studies, and data.

If you are interested in learning more about improving life span and health span, please join us for our lectures on February 28, March 28, and April 25 at our medical spa at 392 Main Street (across from the Ace Hardware) at 5 pm. Space is limited.

To learn more about our services, or to schedule your consultation so that we may base our treatments on your needs, please give us a call at (203) 806-9250. •

by Jana Williams

Soul Sister Travels Organizes Trips that Make a Difference

Ridgefield natives Mary Dent and Kathy Pesce are a pair of women with boisterous laughs, an infectious curiosity to explore, and a willingness to put themselves out there wholeheartedly to make a difference.

Embracing their inner entrepreneur, in 2020 they founded Soul Sister Travels - a boutique travel company committed to journeying with a purpose.

For Mary Dent and Kathy Pesce (right) the environment was the focus of Soul Sister Travels recent trash clean-up and glamping adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

A space where like-minded people can connect and begin their ‘giving-back’ adventure, Soul Sister Travels (SST) provides opportunities to volunteer with a community organization serving a specific local need. Each Journey also incorporates a personal wellness component in the form of yoga, meditation, hiking, self-actualization classes, beach getaways or even a safari. Offering the two elements of self-care and volunteerism fosters a connection not only to oneself, but to the community at large. “When you learn to connect to yourself, you can begin to connect to others,” says Pesce. “Wellness and volunteerism go hand in hand. At Soul Sister Travels we choose connection, not division.”

Don’t be fooled by the name Soul Sister. “It’s based on the connection between Kathy and me. However, we welcome everyone on our wellness and volunteering Journeys, not just women,” says Dent.

Taking kindness on the road Soul Sister Travels breaks down its ‘Journeys’ according to broad overarching categories reflecting different kinds of volunteer opportunities. Their Community Retreats focus on helping local charities while experiencing the culture of places like Nairobi, Kenya and Bali. Programs like the Heart & Soul Retreat in Florida and A Vineyard Weekend in Martha’s Vineyard concentrate on supporting local communities with a specific need in a shorter timeframe. They also have Environmental and Agricultural Retreats focused on creating a better physical world.

Some recent volunteer opportunities include: partnering with the National Parks Service to clean up trash in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee; building a home with Habitat for Humanity in Sarasota, Florida; working with the Red Stocking Fund to bring presents to underprivileged children living year-round on Martha’s Vineyard, and assisting a halfway house in Vermont with suits and supplies to help

Soul Sister Travels’ volunteers bring supplies and help with infrastructure projects at Drug Fighters Primary School and Feeding Center school in Kibera, Kenya. The Journey culminates in an awe-inspiring adventure in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

men transition and reacclimate to society after incarceration.

While true family excursions have yet to be developed, Soul Sister Travels welcomes parents and enthusiastic, ‘younger’ volunteers to the mix with prior approval. Most recently, high schoolers accompanied their parents to a school in Kibera, Nairobi - the largest urban slum in Africa - where they connected with local children who were orphaned, or whose parents suffered from drug or alcohol addiction.

“The Drug Fighters Primary School and Feeding Center (DFC) is particularly close to my heart,” says Dent, who went on to describe how these children have absolutely nothing in a community that is already known for having no way out of poverty.

SST has an ongoing collaboration with the school aimed at creating a sense of trust and community with the teachers, administrators and students. SST volunteers help with not only their time – for example, painting a library or providing playtime and community-building activities – they also bring hard-to-get items including classroom supplies, soccer balls, and basic technology with them in the form of donations. In return, SST participants experience a culture filled with spirituality and warmth, even though

these children lack the very basics in material wealth.

“Agnes, the director of DFC, says this particular school deals the most vulnerable children. The staff focuses on creating a sense of community and self-love for these kids; kids who have never experienced it,” continues Dent. “Kathy and I received cards from the children overflowing with gratitude.”

The journey of giving begins here

The wellness part of the Kenyan Journey is a three-day safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Known for its abundance of wildlife including lions, cheetahs, zebras, hippo, elephants, and more, it is also the location of the annual wildebeest migration. Abutting the Serengeti, together they form a landscape of rolling hills and savannahs. Journeying to the Maasai Mara is a truly life-changing experience for SST travelers.

When asked what they love most about Soul Sister Travels, Dent says, “We feel the smallest and most sincere act of kindness makes the most powerful impact for all.”

Pesce continues that the best part about the retreats for her are the authentic bonds created with the volunteers who journey with them, whether a longer trip to Africa or Bali, or a weekend on the Vineyard. “It’s

Volunteering close to home is a focus of Soul Sister Travels. A recent visit to Martha’s Vineyard included supporting local underprivileged children coupled with some relaxation time at the beach thrown in.

transformational,” she says. “The closeness –and openness – of the group during the closing remarks on the last day of each Journey fills me with gratitude. The personal growth of the participants, and the reflection they have on their experience, plants seeds for the rest of their lives.”

For more information about upcoming Journeys or volunteering in your own local community, you can visit the website at soulsistertravels.org. •

Keeping America beautiful one trash bag at a time. Soul Sister Travels takes in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains while cleaning up what others discarded.

SupportSystem

by Erik Ofgang

Local Agencies Help Adults With Disabilities Succeed

Since 1987, Jocelyn Steele has performed countless shows with SPHERE, a Ridgefield-based organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of adults with disabilities through education, recreation, and the arts. Jocelyn’s favorite part about performing is sharing the experience with others. “I have the talent to get other young adults with special needs to show their talent,” says Jocelyn.

The organization was formed in 1987 by Jocelyn’s parents, Christine and Michael Steele, and other parents who also had children with disabilities. The goal was to help adults with disabilities socialize with one another and other community members. “They needed something to do where they could get to know people and have normal socialization like you and I do,” Christine says.

Today SPHERE is one of many organizations in Fairfield County with services and programs geared toward helping adults with disabilities live more complete and integrated lives.

A Period of Transition

Children with intellectual or developmental disabilities receive services through their local schools but many of these are no longer offered when they enter adulthood. “On your 22nd birthday, those things go away, so if you don’t have a solidified transition plan in place and ready to go, you hit this cliff where you go from really great services that happened in the school districts to nothing,” says Carrie O’Connell Davidson, Director of Programs and Services at Ability Beyond, a nonprofit that works with people with disabilities.

During this period agencies and community programs become vital. Ability Beyond works with more than 3,000 people with disabilities across Fairfield County, elsewhere in Connecticut, and New York. The agency’s programs include job training, residential living, and a variety of supplemental services.

Davidson advises parents and caregivers to treat this transition like a college search. “When your child is thinking of going to college, you tour different campuses and look into programs that fit their needs,” she says. “You should do the same with a child with a disability.”

Left, Wyatt Davis, 27, of Westport, is one of the participants at STAR, Inc. in Norwalk, who benefit from the services they provide. Right, both Ability Beyond and STAR, Inc help match adults with intellectual and development disabilities with meaningful employment, services, and activities.

Finding Employment

One important way for a person with disabilities to adjust to adult life is to find meaningful employment.

STAR, Inc. (STAR), a Norwalk-based nonprofit founded in 1952, has many programs geared towards helping adults with disabilities including employment supports, transportation, residential services, volunteer opportunities, and recreational services. Based in Norwalk, STAR also serves clients from Wilton, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, and Darien. They are one of the few agencies in the state with employees certified in Customized Employment for people with intellectual disabilities. “It’s matching an individual’s skillsets to fulfill a meaningful, real job need at a company,”

says Peter Saverine, Director of Philanthropy at STAR “None of us want to be in a job where we’re not interested in what we’re doing. If somebody really loves cars, we have found them jobs in car dealerships. Maybe it’s polishing cars or helping with the paperwork and filing, but they’re in the presence of something they like.”

Saverine first learned about STAR as a manager at a local store. “I found the STAR employees came to work very enthusiastically. They’re energetic, they really want to do a good job,” he says. “Over the years, I’ve always employed some people with these unique abilities, and I found it really raised the level of productivity and morale for the whole company. Other employees and your customers really

embrace these individuals, protect them and want to see them thrive. It’s all about inclusion and acceptance in the workplace.”

Ability Beyond also offers many services aimed at helping clients find meaningful employment and provides consulting nationally for corporations who are looking to incorporate disability hiring into their diversity plans. One misconception Ability Beyond often needs to address is that hiring these individuals is more than charity, “It’s an improved experience for your entire workspace by hiring people with disabilities,” says Jane Davis, President & CEO at Ability Beyond. “I think employers are often surprised by how positive the experience is for their whole team, their company, and themselves.”

Recreation and Independence

Obtaining independence as an adult with a disability is about more than just working. That’s why nonprofits also offer a variety of recreational and social activities such as field trips, music, and art classes. SPHERE offers a membership program that provides people with disabilities the chance to pursue different classes in the arts.

“Not every member can work,” says Lori Berisford, President and Board Chair of SPHERE. “For some of our members it’s their only form of socialization, so it’s very much a family atmosphere and there’s a lot of joy in all our programs.”

SPHERE members recently presented a wonderful production of The Greatest Showman at the Ridgefield Playhouse that provided a perfect example of what people with disabilities can do when given a chance.

Christine Steele, Joceyln’s mother and founder of SPHERE, says that SPHERE was founded with this goal in mind and she encourages other parents and caregivers to seek out similar services and advocate for their children’s success. “Don’t cave into the administration or whoever is telling you that they can’t possibly get independence, they can,” she says. “You’d be amazed. I’ve seen people that didn’t have language skills and did not feel comfortable on stage. Now they can’t wait to get on stage.” •

Top photo, left to right, Amanda Grose, Emily Haughney, and Alex O’Dell appear in SPHERE’S performance of The Greatest Showman at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Bottom photo, Meleigha Wolff and Zachary Sorena on stage.

Questions with

Pinky

O68 You’re a PTA mom turned creator, comedian, and personality - what was the impetus to start posting on social media in October of 2020? For those who haven’t seen you on social media, what’s the best way to sum up your comedy?

PP We were a handful of months into the pandemic, well into the quarantine, and I had never spent so much time with my family members, who I affectionately refer to as “roommates.” Roommate #1, who I willingly tied myself to, Roommates #2 and #3 who I played an active role in making and were extracted from me, and #4 who I purchased at the local pet store! My comedy is tiny-brown-lady-relatablehumor, aided by the use of a sarcastic and jaded outlook on life.

O68 You open each reel applying lip balm while wearing your signature crown – when did that start and what’s it about?

PP At the end of my very first viral video, I put a small fancy crown-like comb onto my messy bun and declared, “I said what I said.” Followers commented I needed a bigger crown for the knowledge I just dropped and a week later I had four crowns in my PO Box waiting for me.

by Julia Bruce

Now it’s a thing. It makes me evil-cackle inside because I insist on recording any content as myself; messy bun, t-shirt and sweats, but then have this beautiful crown on my head. It’s all very contradictory. As for the Chapstick, I have a habit of nervously fidgeting and the Chapstick was on my desk, where I film most of my content and so I just put it on not thinking anything of it.

O68 On your reels you often “pinkysplain” where you over-explain some topic, essentially saying what other people think but are often afraid to say aloud. What is the best thing you’ve ever pinkysplained?

PP The best thing I’ve pinkysplained is the struggles women go through after an evening of nighttime shenanigans, wink wink. It was my first viral video, and the fact that so many women felt the same way made me feel validated, powerful, and invincible.

O68 You began by just doing short reels. How has the transition been to performing a full-length show? What’s your creative process for putting together a set and what can people expect from your New Crown, Who Dhis show at the Ridgefield Playhouse on March 24th?

PP When I was first approached to do stand-up, I was told that my material would translate well into a stand-up format. I’m basically doing what stand-up comedians do, which is see something in their real life and have a reaction/response to it. When I wrote my 2022 show, I took what everyone was writing in the comments section of my content - questions and such - and made a story out of my first experience/exposure to social media. For my 2023 show, I took everything that happened last year, from me doing stand-up, to how my family handled it all, and told a whole new story. I’ve always been a storyteller. It’s finally paying off.

O68 What comedians are your inspiration? If you could share the stage with another comic, who would it be?

PP I’m a lover of all things comedy as long as it’s not unnecessarily vulgar to the point that that’s all you’re talking about. I like relatable comedy, like that performed by Margret Cho, Ali Wong, Chelsea Handler, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Jo Koy, Christina P, Tom Segura, etc... I think it would be great to share the stage with any of those comedians.•

Creativity

The Importance of Art Education

by Leslie Cober

As a lifetime artist, illustrator, and educator, my life is surrounded by creative people who look back at their childhood and the people who have influenced them, believed in them, and inspired them to follow their dreams. Those dreams included becoming artists, lawyers, doctors, business executives, and neurosurgeons. These professionals tell the story of how art education greatly inspired each of them in their younger years, rooted their confidence and influenced their successful, future professional careers. I have cherished memories of my high school art teacher, Mr. Globerman and my after school art instructor Mrs. Adler, who gave me an extra advantage by connecting me with talented students from surrounding towns.

Keep art in the curriculum

Creative opportunities like these are life changing for children, but surprisingly art classes are the first to be cut from school budgets amid an ongoing emphasis on core subjects like reading, math, and test scores that measure student success. Art is essential to adolescent development. The arts engage with the brain’s hippocampus, which builds an emotional awareness and fosters empathy, especially for young children. Michael Garland, a bestselling author and illustrator of over 30 children’s books, states, “Art education is important because it reaches every child and inspires those that could not have been motivated in any other way.”

According to my research there is also a connection between arts education and increased academic

achievement. Safeguarding art education for our children is vitally important.

Art and academic connections

When students found themselves reduced to computer screens during pandemic distance learning, depression, anxiety, and feelings of sadness increased. Contemporary Painter Sherri Wolfgang asserts, “Art gave me a safe space to be creative and it was always the art teacher who supported me!” Recognizing both the visual and performing arts - painting, drawing, music, and dancehas become a crucial form of healing, connection, and compassion.

Art teachers

I spoke with assert that art instruction helps children with the development of motor, language, and social skills, as well as decision-making and risk taking. The visual arts teach color, layout, perspective, and balance. Most of the subjects in school such as math, science, and history require structured right or wrong answers. Creative Director David Pollard observes that “Art education is the bridge between the linear and non-linear modes of learning. By participating in drawing, the student experiences history, discipline, personal creativity, and confidence.” Confidence and discipline have been linked to successful job placement in top professional positions.

Many of today’s graduates are starting their own ventures in unique fields. If they are encouraged to be creative from childhood, they can be even more productive in their career choices. Kathryn Ko, MFA Chief of Metro Neurosurgery articulates, “Art gave me something I didn’t know I needed. My neurosurgery career expanded after I became an artist.” A recent report from LinkedIn, placed creativity as the top skill in demand by employers in 2020. The ability to be creative will set professionals apart in today’s job market, across disparate sectors and industries. When Alison Gentry was hired by a top Los Angeles Entertainment Law Firm, she said that her success was in part to her interest in the intersection of creativity and academics and stemmed from her ability to pursue both subjects throughout K-12.

It is important to examine the dangers and detriment of the arts not receiving as much the same importance in our culture as other initiatives. Throughout the years STEM programs and initiatives have increased in popularity across schools nationwide, but research says otherwise

Leslie Cober teaching a workshop entitled “Thinking Out of the Box” for seniors from The High School of Art & Design, NYC that was hosted by the Society of Illustrators at the Museum of American Illustration.

about its success. Multidisciplinary artist and author, Lisa L. Cyr states, “The arts provide a catalyst for invention and innovation. The great thinker Albert Einstein said that the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. We must nurture creative faculties from a young age.”

A lack of support for the arts will decrease career opportunities and paths. The pressure to attend a certain level of college paired with the high tuitions tend to lead our culture away from the arts as an educational or career path. When a child shows a particular aptitude for the

After speaking with State of Connecticut representatives, a study was done to find out how much of the state’s economy relies on the arts. It didn’t shock me that the study concluded over 30% of the state’s revenue comes from arts and culture businesses. After this study, I’ve noticed the state is more eager to help the arts in Connecticut.

It should be also noted that the current Superintendent of the Ridgefield School District is re-prioritizing art education.

“It is important that the culture not only change in the schools but in the minds of the students and parents. Everyone has to see the value of the arts in education before we can reverse course.”

– Greg Mursko

arts and will not be dissuaded, this puts the obligation on parents to nurture their children’s creativity with independent after school opportunities, many taught by professional artists. Early access and development in the visual arts can broaden the future paths of children, stimulating cognitive functions for academic performance, improving math proficiency, reading skills, scientific reasoning, and content

organization, all of which yield increased SAT scores. Bil Donovan, artist, author, and Dior Beauty’s first artist-in-residence strongly expresses, “Art education opened opportunities beyond the scope of the expected path for a young boy in a blue-collar working-class neighborhood.” In school communities nationwide, initiatives should be as inclusive as possible so every child can grow to their full potential. Awareness is the first step in facilitating change. Art advocates, teachers, parents, and supporters worldwide need to work together to ensure that today’s curricula nurtures creative skills for every student. •

“Art education opened opportunities beyond the scope of the expected path for a young boy in a blue-collar working-class neighborhood.”

Adventurous SUVs Make it Easy to Explore

Words and photos by Roger Garbow

When SUVs began replacing station wagons in American driveways, the attraction was the go-anywhere capability. If you wanted to pursue an adventurous lifestyle, you needed something with a bit more ground clearance than a Country Squire. Today, drive through any parking lot in Fairfield County and you’ll witness the dominance of the SUV. Unfortunately, most current SUVs are skewed more towards style and less towards capability. Chrome 22” wheels wearing ultralow-profile tires are fine on smooth asphalt but fall short when the road ends or the snow flies…or you clobber a pothole. To embrace the growing overlanding and off-road aftermarket trends, manufacturers are offering some intriguing new SUV options.

Ford Expedition Timberline

While the majority of SUVs sold are compact and mid-size models, some buyers need maximum interior space or towing capacity. Ford’s Expedition, now in its fourth generation, launched in 1997 as a four-door, nine-passenger successor to the Bronco. Based upon Ford’s best-selling F-150 pickup truck, the Expedition has been a consistent seller, delivering rugged reliability. With the Timberline Edition Expedition, Ford is making a strong argument for rethinking the large SUV. Featuring a class leading 10.6” of ground clearance, 18” all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates, Trail Control offroad braking, and rough road suspension, the eight-seat Timberline is at home on a rocky dirt road or unplowed ski house driveway as it is on an I-84 commute. Switching into 4-wheel low mode, my Stone Blue test vehicle comfortably handled the steepest trails I could find yet will still tow 9,200 lbs. Expedition Timberline prices start at $71,400.

Mazda CX-50 Meridian

Mazda has a well-deserved reputation for building vehicles that are fun to drive, with upscale interiors, and good overall value. Up until now, their crossovers/ SUVs have been strictly road focused. With the allnew CX-50 and its Meridien off-road package, Mazda wants drivers to play in the dirt. I recently spent a week with a Polymetal Gray Meridian CX-50. The CX50 is plenty peppy, its 2.5l turbo delivering 320 lbs-ft of torque yet returning 29 mpg highway. This is a great looking compact crossover with the Meridian’s allterrain tires adding some visual toughness. The interior is swathed in beautiful Terracotta leather and features easy-to-use controls. Switching to off-road mode, I was able to easily drive through deep mud. The CX-50 can tow 3,500 lbs and is a joy to drive on any surface. CX-50 Meridian prices start at just $39,950.

Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner is the senior citizen in this group. The original debuted in 1983 and the current fifth generation platform has been around since 2009. Yet, the 4Runner continues to be a favorite, with 2021 being its best-selling year ever. Why? It looks good, drives comfortably on the road and is nearly unstoppable off-road. But most importantly, it’s darn near indestructible. Toyota reliability combined with a proven design and serious all-terrain chops is a recipe for success. My 40th Anniversary special edition model looked fantastic with retro graphics that would make Marty McFly swoon. The interior is lacking some features more modern competitors have, yet the 4Runner is still a compelling player in the off-road SUV game. 4Runner prices start at $39,555.

Subaru Forester Wilderness

Since the 70’s Subaru has made AWD a cornerstone of their vehicles. Looking to add even more capability to fit the active lifestyle of their customers, Subaru recently introduced a rugged new Wilderness package. The Forester Wilderness raises ground clearance to 9.2 inches, adds all-terrain tires, additional body cladding, and a front skid plate for better offroad protection. The package also includes a stronger roof rack and higher towing capacity. The Wilderness interior features Subaru’s StarTex water repellent upholstery. For those who have muddy pets, or passengers who like messy snacks, StarTex is super easy to clean. In Autumn Green, my test vehicle looked ready for adventure. Like all Subarus, the Forester’s outward visibility is excellent. Backing up the rugged appearance, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control ensure whatever adventures you get into, you’ll get out of as well. Forester Wilderness prices start at $34,020.

Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek

Nissan’s original Pathfinder, introduced in 1985, was a tough little off-road capable SUV based on the Hardbody pickup. Over the years, the Pathfinder grew bigger and softer, catering to American tastes. But for the new fifth generation Nissan is looking to regain some of those off-road chops. The three-row Rock Creek adds an off-road suspension, a bit more ground clearance and all-terrain tires mounted to beadlock-style wheels. The approach and departure angles are improved to more easily tackle steep hills and obstacles while the 24-valve V-6 puts out more power. The interior is roomy, comfortable and user-friendly with proper buttons and knobs. One of my favorite touches is the chunky roof rack which would look perfect carrying a roof mounted tent. Pathfinder Rock Creek prices start at $42,820.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 4MATIC

If your idea of off-roading is driving on your private beach, Mercedes has you covered. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, is the ultimate expression of German luxury four-wheeling. Mercedes builds more capable off-roaders, including the wild G63 4X4 Squared, yet none deliver an interior or motoring experience as lavish as this. Open the door and retractable surboard-sized running boards present themselves and the suspension is lowered to allow for easy access. The interior will make you swoon, with soft perforated Nappa wrapped around cooling, heating and massaging seats to properly cosset your passengers. The rear lounge chairs, with pillows for heads and backs, fully recline with extending footrests. At night, the adjustable colored strip lighting throughout the cabin creates an environment befitting a high-end nightclub. If you do venture off the asphalt, switch to off-road mode which raises the suspension to its highest setting. If you still manage to get stuck, the GLS has a fun trick called Recovery Mode, aka Bounce Mode. The car bounces on its air suspension as it shimmies out of the sand or mud, gently so as not to spill the bubbly your rear passengers fetched from the backseat champagne cooler. Mercedes-Maybach GLS prices start at $165,100. •

A Look Behind the Scenes at ACT of Connecticut

When attending one of ACT of Connecticut’s Broadway caliber productions, it is hard not to think about all the detailed work and planning that must take place behind the scenes in order to achieve the magical results on stage. From casting, staging, choreography, scenery, lighting, sound; one would think that the theater’s rehearsal period must be several months long. In fact, there are only four weeks between the first day of rehearsal to the first public performance.

The meticulous planning of each production actually begins six months in advance of actors’ arrival for day one of rehearsal. “Pre-production is the term given to all of the planning leading up to our rehearsal period,” says Daniel C. Levine, ACT of CT’s Artistic Director. During this time, Levine selects the design teams including the scenic, costume,

lighting, props, and sound designers. The music director, choreographer, and stage management team are also hired. “We’ve been fortunate to have employed some of the theater industries most skilled and talented artists, designers, and musicians for our productions. It is thrilling to collaborate with such remarkable talent,” he says. During pre-production, the selected creative team works with the show’s director in order to bring his/her vision to life.

“Each season, I direct 1-2 of our mainstage productions – generally the larger musicals,” says Levine. This season, Levine directed Guys and Dolls and will be directing the highly anticipated The Secret Garden, which opens in May 2023. “It’s important for me though, to also hire guest directors for some of our productions to introduce new design teams to the theater with different aesthetics. I want all of our productions look and feel different so that our audiences

will continue to expect the unexpected,” says Levine.

After all designs are approved, the scenic ground plans are sent to shops for bids, costumes are sourced or built, and lighting plots created. ACT’s music department also begins their work on customizing the show’s instrumentation. Casting sessions are held (both in NYC and CT) and actors are selected. One week before rehearsal begins, the set is loaded into the theater. After six months of planning, the cast arrives for their first day of rehearsal. The show’s music is taught the first two days and staging and choreography after that. Just one week before opening night, the show’s technical elements are added and the band joins. I’ve often heard Daniel C. Levine talk about “theater magic” during his pre-show curtain speeches. After discovering how a production is created, I’m a believer in that magic. •

by Lauri Edgar

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF BUTCHEN

The amazing set designs of ACT of Connecticut vary dramatically between shows. Above, Little Shop of Horrors (2020). Below, left to right, Guys and Dolls (2022), Rent (2022), Spelling Bee (2019), Working (2019), and Evita (2018).

Teaching Your Kids about Finances

by Tom Henske

As a parent, teaching your children about money is an important part of helping them develop financial literacy and independence. However, many parents struggle with starting this financial education because they themselves may not feel confident in their own financial knowledge or they may not know where to start.

A survey conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFC) found that 79% of parents believe schools should be responsible for teaching kids about money management and personal finance. Additionally, 75% of parents said they would be more likely to discuss financial matters with their children if they had more resources and information.

Despite parents thinking that this education should reside in schools, Connecticut does not require a stand-alone personal finance course for high school graduation, nor does it require students to take a course with personal finance embedded. The task of teaching children about finances for now, falls on the family.

Let’s Talk About It

Money is an essential part of everyday life. From paying for groceries to saving for a big purchase, your children will encounter financial decisions throughout their livesjust like you have. By teaching them about money from an early age, you can help them develop the skills, habits, and knowledge they need to make responsible financial decisions as they grow older.

Teaching your kids about money can also help to reduce your own financial worries. Money is a common source of concern for many adults and teaching your children how to manage their money can help to reduce the stress in their own lives. It’s not uncommon for a parent who starts talking about money with their children to see they start making improvements on their own situation along the way.

Stress can have serious negative impacts

on a person’s physical and mental health. According to the journal Health Psychology, it can be associated with an increased risk of developing a number of health problems, including depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. By reducing financial stress in our lives, our children can be better equipped to handle the challenges and responsibilities that come with managing their own finances as they grow older.

Some parents may feel that they don’t have enough financial knowledge themselves to teach their children. If you feel this way, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to be a financial expert to teach your kids about money. You can start by sharing your own financial experiences and values with your children and learning together. Others may feel that their children are too young to understand financial concepts. While it’s true that young children may not fully grasp complex financial concepts, it’s never too early to start teaching them the basics, such as the value of money and how to save. Tailor money conversations to be age appropriate. For example, conversations with a five-year-old might be about the difference between a quarter, nickel, dime and penny while conversations with a teenager might be more along the lines of

budgeting or saving, for example for that car they are going to want once they get a license.

Getting Started

Begin by designating a good time when family money conversations can happen. For some that is dinnertime and for others it’s during a car ride. These don’t have to be long conversations, think ten-minute blocks of time.

Start with the basics - teaching your children the value of money and how to save. You can do this by setting up a piggy bank or a savings account for them and encouraging them to save their allowance or any money they receive as gifts. Other fun topics might include budgeting, investing, or compound interest.

You can lead by example. If you model good financial habits, your children will learn from your behaviors. Talking through financial decisions is a great way to demonstrate how money can be managed. You can also look for and download apps online that make this easier to do, but make sure you reinforce the need for secure transactions. Conversations about money don’t need to feared; they can be worthwhile for both parents and children. •

The Learning Wilton

n December 2022, Christine Guan opened The Learning ExperienceWilton to create a high-quality early childhood experience for her sons and other children. A former Kindergarten teacher and Bridgewater Associates veteran, Guan had searched for daycare for her first son, but she struggled to find a facility that met her standards.

“I visited dozens of daycares and preschools, and it was hard for me to find a place where I felt comfortable leaving my son Kai. I was pregnant with my second son, and I was nervous. I thought about quitting my job,” says Guan.

Her experience resonated with many of her coworkers and moms that she knew living in Ridgefield, Wilton, and neighboring towns. “My friends were afraid of returning to work after their maternity leave ended. Some did not,” she says.

Guan partnered with The Learning Experience, a franchisor, to develop a high quality early childhood center serving infants to preschool students Today, she owns The Learning Experience - Wilton and an already established Learning Experience in Newtown with her college sweetheart and husband Indra.

“My husband is from Ridgefield and what impressed me when we moved here was the quality of public schools in this area. I wanted to match that environment in the daycare and

preschool setting,” says Guan.

That aspiration dovetails with Guan’s business and education background. She received a Masters in Education from Harvard University and spent multiple years teaching Kindergarten and 1st Grade in public schools. After teaching, she worked at Bridgewater Associates, an asset management firm. The two backgrounds blend together perfectly to make her schools successful.

The Learning Experience places a large emphasis on safety. “We do thorough background checks and only hire teachers that I would feel comfortable leaving my own children with. My husband is a volunteer firefighter in Ridgefield and is also occasionally dispatched to Wilton. We have our pulse on the latest safety trends,” she says.

The addition of Center Director Bunny Kolf has helped the Wilton school get off to a strong start. Kolf led a successful early childhood center in Ridgefield for many years and has worked for The Learning Experience for over 3 years. “Bunny is a trusted and known entity in this area. She is the mom of three grown children and has proven leadership skills,” says Guan.

The Learning Experience – Wilton strives to make early education and daycare joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow. To learn more, interested families can e-mail wilton@tlechildcare.com •

From

by Gerri Lewis

Pots to

It’s Time to Get Inspired

From creating pots to designing plots, passionate gardeners are an inspiration, especially for those of us with less than a green thumb. While some of us might have been grateful for a winter watering reprieve, many gardeners have been anxious to get their hands dirty since they closed their beds last fall. If you have any questions, talk to a gardening enthusiast, or better yet head to your favorite nursery.

In Brookfield, the energy at Shakespeare’s Garden seems to vibrate throughout the greenhouse, even while snow still dusts the fields of the ten-acre parcel at Burr Farm. Co-owner Mark Fancher boasts like a proud parent as he describes the unique varieties of plants they carry and how popular their exotic plant exhibits have become. Opened in 1988, this family-owned business has been in its current

Photos by Dylan Miller

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

– Audrey Hepburn

location for 15 years, though Mark says he has been working with plants and flowers since he could walk. His sister-in-law Kasia Fancher is the doting one, gently coaxing the greenhouse baskets to thrive. From family travel she might come home with an armful of driftwood or other natural materials which she creatively integrates into unique planting designs. Mark’s brother Steve, who has a degree in horticulture, brings expertise in commercial plant production.

Popular trends in plantings

One of the spring highlights is to walk the 10-acre plot loaded with planting ideas that are guaranteed to inspire. The farm abuts 100 acres of open space and many of their clients say that a visit to Shakespeare’s Garden is a regularly needed stress-reliever.

A popular service offered by the Fanchers is to babysit client pots and containers over the winter so they can get a jump start on readying them for spring delivery. Shakespeare’s Garden has a fullservice landscape, design, and maintenance business

which gives them plenty of opportunity to identify trends. Last year they saw an increased desire for grasses and plants that are indigenous to the area. They expect those trends to continue along with the desire for more wildflower gardens.

Just down the road in Bethel, Hollandia Nurseries and Gardens is practically a household name and a visit to the garden center is enough to make even the most novice gardener want to dust off the trowel. Shaun Klesh, enthusiastic Director of Social Media Marketing for Hollandia Nurseries & Gardens says that one of the biggest trends he is seeing is that people want “no mow” lawns. Move over grass because lush beds of clover are becoming ever more popular. Another trend is the installation of pollinator gardens that can attract everything from non-stinging bees to butterflies and hummingbirds. “People want something to look at,” Klesh says. There is also a trend in vegetable gardens because as more flexible work schedules have evolved, people enjoy taking breaks in the day by rolling up their sleeves and becoming part of the nurturing process.

Right now, there is a rush on bulbs that are often planted in the fall, but can still be planted as soon as the ground thaws. “Choose your bulbs carefully,” Klesh advises, “Deer love tulips but shun daffodils.”

While Hollandia was founded in 1964 in a small two-car garage, it has grown to a

full-service gardening business with landscape and design services, two locations, hundreds of thousands of plants, and knowledgeable personnel who can offer helpful tips.

One of Hollandia’s special features on their 20-acre plot located on Old Hawleyville Road is a three-acre garden packed with plants. Their website calls this garden a terrific inspiration that you can walk through and get ideas for your own garden or see exactly how a particular shrub or tree will mature. Hollandia holds an annual spring garden show in April which includes a series of lectures, garden tours and a season kick off sale.

For even more inspiration, check out Seventy Acres in Newtown, who specialize in understanding clients’ outdoor spaces. Landscape architect Nancy King sees a lot of groups who are interested in sustainable design and low impact development. She says that “limiting high maintenance lawn areas and including native or adaptive plantings to reduce overall maintenance, water usage, and in tune with the native soils and climate is something that is integral to our design process for our clients.” Seventy Acres is a full-service landscape architectural and design firm and if a visit to their impressive website isn’t enough to spur the imagination, a conversation with the landscape architects will.

With so many ideas at the ready, it can still be disconcerting to look out the window in early spring. Gray drab days with ground

still too frozen for planting suddenly mixed with overdue sunshine and days warm enough to coax early risers like crocuses and daffodils can feel like a roller coaster ride.

John at Shakespeare’s Garden recommends enjoying your indoor plants. John is a big fan of succulents because they are interesting to look at, easy to care for and transition well to the outdoor patio pots when the time is right. Another remedy for spring’s big tease is to add some flowering plants indoors. Shaun at Hollandia says that many of their customers gravitate toward Easter lilies at this time of year because it brightens the home and offers a taste of what’s to come.

When it’s time to finally get going with designing your outdoor space, a comprehensive prep and planning schedule provided by Gerbert & Sons lays out a month-by-month gardening plan for the entire year with no shortage of things to do before you put seeds in the ground. The Stamford-based firm, which services Fairfield County and beyond, is a full-landscaping company offering irrigation, masonry and organic solutions. From pruning to planting evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs to taking stock of tools, there is enough on the winter/spring to do list to keep any gardener inspired right now—at least until the blooming begins. •

Pass The Bangers and Mash!

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in the O68

by Sarah Gauthier Galluzzo

The saying “Everyone is Irish on March 17,” sure does ring true for the people of Ridgefield, Wilton, and the surrounding areas. While just one calendar date may commemorate Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, celebrations go on full force the entire month.

Located at 93 North Main Street in the heart of South Norwalk, O’Neill’s Irish Pub offers a taste of the Emerald Isle all year long, but they really step up their game in March.

“For St. Patricks Day, we kick off the season on March 1 with a Guinness Dinner hosted by the prestigious Guinness Ambassador Mike Riordan. This private event sells out, so it’s best to call and book in advance,” says O’Neill’s Co-Owner, Donal Leahy.

You will want to take advantage of the Norwalk Police Emerald Society’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 11. It starts at 11:00 AM at Veteran’s Park in Norwalk and ends with a ceremony at

O’Neill’s Irish Pub. You can find an entire month of events, including live Irish music, food, and dancing, at www.oneillsono.com, but there’s so much more than just St. Patrick’s day to celebrate at O’Neill’s.

“People from the area consider this their home away from home. One local family came in the other night to celebrate a special birthday. Their child has celebrated every single birthday here at O’Neill’s—from his first to his 21st,” Leahy says.

It’s no wonder why families come to O’Neills to celebrate. The staff is attentive and familiar enough to pull up a chair and chat. Chefs Ezequiel Cortez and Antonio Sanchez have been here since the bar’s inception in 1999, and they have perfected the art of many authentic Irish dishes and American classics.

Every meal starts with warm Irish bread scones studded with raisins and served with fresh butter. One of the best things on the menu is the chicken curry. The portion is enormous, the heat is just

right, and the veggies are served crisp. You will leave full and satiated if you order the curry and rice with a side of Guiness.

“Some of the best curries are imported from Ireland,” according to Leahy.

Thanks to the UK’s longtime connection with India, curry has become traditional Irish Fare. “Someone just came in yesterday to get a gift card for her Indian neighbors because they love our curry,” Donal says.

Other authentic offerings include bangers and mash featuring pork sausage imported from Ireland. My husband devoured a corned beef reuben panini with a big thumbs up.

“The fisherman’s pie and shepherd’s pie are also fan favorites. Of course, our steak sandwiches are also very popular,” says Leahy.

The summer menu features more rice bowls, legendary tacos, salads, and lighter Fare. In addition, you can listen to live music all year long at O’Neills, which has an outdoor space for larger crowds.

Good Golly, Miss Molly

The Irish customs of hospitality are also alive and well at Molly Darcy’s Pub in Danbury, which is named after an Irish American Woman who was a dear family friend of the owners, John and Anya Riney and Kevin and Phyllis Doonan. Over the years, this team, who all hail from Ireland, has created numerous restaurants around the country, including Molly Darcy’s in Myrtle Beach, Sally O’Briens, McGoverns, Bailey’s Corner, The Clinton Inn, and others. Yet, the Executive Chef at Molly Darcy’s Danbury, Tommy O’Malley, has remained a constant and has been turning out delightful Irish fare at Molly Darcy’s Danbury for over 20 years.

There’s so much to love about Molly Darcy’s. The vibe of the place is spacious but somehow so cozy. The upstairs area offers seating with many spaces for groups. There’s room for music, a large dance area, a large professional sound system, two bars, pool tables, games, weekly theme nights, but perhaps most importantly— the food!

“You won’t go wrong ordering anything on the menu,” Chef O’Malley promises, in his thick Irish Brogue. And he is correct.

I order the hot wings for a starter because I consider myself a hot wing aficionado. Unlike the rubbery mess many bars pass off as an appetizer, Molly Darcy’s wings are crisp, yet tender and flavorful. The wings fall off the bone, and the sauce is a mix of buffalo sauce with just a

Photos by New Light Creative Services

hint of tangy ranch. I usually don’t enjoy ranch dressing, but it works.

One of my guests tries the corned beef and cabbage quesadilla. This offers a slightly lighter option for this traditionally heavy meal. My short rib with a Guinness demiglace served over mashed potatoes is sumptuous comfort food. My daughter orders the Dubliner burger, and we love the savory combination of the cheddar ale sauce, bleu cheese & crispy onions on top. We managed to save room for dessert. The chocolate lava cake is fudgy and divine.

Perhaps best of all, owner Anya Riney orders a coffee and joins us for a chat during dessert. She shares her experiences in Ireland and the states. She made us feel like welcome guests in a cozy home.

“That’s the way we Irish are, we like to pull up a chair,” Riney says. Her eyes sparkle, and she shares a wide, warm smile.

Like O’Neills, Molly Darcy’s has a month’s worth of entertainment lined up for St. Patrick’s Day. To find out more, go to www.mollydarcy.com.

Located just up the street at 6 Lake Road, the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation celebrates everything Irish—all year round. They offer weekly Irish language, Irish fiddle and whistle classes, weekly céilí and set dancing classes; monthly seisiún and more. Chef Dan serves up classic Irish dishes to club members as well.

On February 5, Molly Darcy’s is hosting a fundraiser for the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural St. Patrick’s Day Parade Fundraiser. The event runs from 1-6 and offers an Irish buffet, live music with the Mighty Ploughboys, dancing, and more. This event helps the Irish Cultural Foundation prepare for their St. Patrick’s Day celebration weekend, running from Friday, March 17th, and culminating with a parade on Sunday the 19th. •

Geocaching Brings the Treasure Hunt Experience Within Reach

How many of you grew up with a treasure map hidden away in your room? Perhaps you made it with a group of friends to find a buried toy you sacrificed to the game, or as part of a classroom time capsule where you contributed a photo of your dog. Maybe it was cut out from the back of a cereal box, or came with a happy meal when they were still served in the original McDonald’s box? Whatever it was, “X marks the spot” has always been a phrase that evokes the thrill of search and discovery; peril and reward. It’s part of the archetypal hero’s journey that has inspired literature, movies, and games for hundreds of years, and even legends and mythologies for thousands of years before that. You may be an adult now, unfortunately, but you should know that you can still partake in this unwavering human adventure right in your own backyard through geocaching.

“Geocaching uses a smartphone app to

help find hidden ‘caches’ - like mini treasure boxes - in neighborhoods, parks, and trails,” says Sarah Breznen, Director of Education at the Woodcock Nature Center. “The caches are often camouflaged in their surroundings and contain a log book and small items (trinkets, stickers, seashells, marbles, etc). The rule is if you take something, you must leave something behind.”

If you want to unleash the treasure hunter in yourself or live the experience with your kids, geocaching.com tells you how to download the app and explains the basics to get you started. Breznen says the app is free, but there is also a premium version you can pay for that unlocks more caches. Once you have the app, you can search a map and see all the caches near you. They are also rated by difficulty of terrain so you can choose what is best for younger kids starting out.

While geocaching is allowed on state park lands throughout the area, some parks such as

Weir Farm National Historical Park don’t allow it but offer a fun alternative. The park offers a Letterboxing Junior Ranger program May through October that is similar to geocaching, but without the need for a GPS.

“The Letterboxing activity is one of our most popular Junior Ranger activities,” says Park Ranger Kristin Lessard. “Visitors of all ages love following the clues and finding the 5 boxes hidden within the park, and of course earning their Weir Farm Junior Ranger Badge!” Like geocaching, letterboxing indulges our innate sense of discovery, but it’s knowledge and appreciation for the land’s wildlife and history that is gained at the end of the search. If you’re craving a broader search for knowledge, there are EarthCaches established by the Connecticut Geological Society that educate about unique natural processes that are spread throughout the

Them All

state. Some locations close to home are Kent Falls, Sherwood Island State Park and Silver Sands State Park.

Of course, you may not be the type to follow in someone else’s footsteps, you want to forge your own path for crying out loud! You’re not a player of the game, you’re the game master in all his or her glory! If that describes you, then place your own geocaches, formulate your own clues, and expand the treasure hunt to your own local patch of forest; people will thank you for it. If you live in Wilton, this opportunity is closer than you think.

The Wilton Land Conservation Trust is dedicated to preserving biodiversity and open spaces through conservation, stewardship, and education. It invites people to explore nature across its 840+ acres of conserved open space. Many of its preserves have maintained

trail networks that would be perfect for geocaching. “Nothing brings us more joy than seeing people connect with nature,” says David McCarthy, Executive Director. The Trust brings people and families together outdoors through its many educational and recreational programs and invites geocaching to its preserves. The Trust would love to participate in and host such activities; if anyone is interested, please reach to them at inquity@wiltonlandtrust.org.

Whether you are a creator or a seeker, or a little bit of both, the facts are undeniable; geocaching is the perfect way to safely satisfy the need for a good old treasure hunt no matter what your age is. Make your own hunt or discover what’s waiting out there for you. To view rules on placing and finding geocaching and good places to get started, follow the QR code link. Happy hunting! •

In Genesis, Adam came before Eve, so that makes December 30th – the night before New Year’s Eve – “New Year’s Adam.” Dick Cavett and Martha Rogers threw a party that evening at their Ridgefield home. “It was easier to get our caterer Odeens, less difficult for guests to get a babysitter, and safer late night driving conditions,” says Rogers. Since Cavett and Rogers moved into Sunset Hall, this was their first party in the expansive marble ballroom. This magnificent Ridgefield property was built in 1912 and was home to Robert Vaughn and Harry Houdini’s brother-in-law, among others. Guests were gathered around the piano to sing along with pianist Charlie Alterman, and were led in song by Karen Kelley, a top realtor for Compass. Charlie played for hours tickling the keys with American classics and songs from popular musicals. The singers and a few dancers were guests ranging from 20-something to 80-something. The house was festooned in greenery, tiny fairy lights, and white feathers. Martha designed and set up the decorations with caretaker Jim Ginoni. Jenifer Johnson of Sweet Bean Events suggested the feathers.

Cavett and Rogers report that Sunset Hall has been a perfect place to hide away during COVID, and that they have been delighted with Ridgefield, where their neighbors and local strangers have been interesting, helpful, and friendly. Plus, since the town is devoted to the arts, education, and culture, they feel at home. Cavett says there are fewer “sharp elbows” here than in New York City.

Cavett stars in a new PBS American Masters special, “Groucho and Cavett,” which premiered on December 27. Rogers has recently published the fourth edition of her textbook, Managing Customer Experience and Relationships: A Strategic Framework, which is her ninth book. One of Rogers’s goals for 2023 is to meet more folks around here.

Dick Cavett and Martha Rogers enjoy friends for a “New Year’s Adam” Ball

All guests tested negative for COVID and were ready to join in a singalong. Photos taken by Deborah O’Brien Photography.

Total Baked Opens Retail Space

Sweet Spot: Stacey’s

Stacey Sussman’s entrance into the baking world began six years ago with making Pinterest-worthy birthday cakes for kids. She then expanded to baking for friends and family, creating about four to five cakes a week and Stacey’s Totally Baked was born. In October 2020, she left her corporate job and decided to bake full-time. Through her connections in the community and word of mouth recommendations, her business, like rising dough, expanded beyond the realm of her home kitchen. In the fall of 2022, Stacey’s Totally Baked moved into a retail space at 113 Danbury Road, adding her unique contribution to the Copps Hill Plaza’s foodie vibe. “I love the location. I love being able to talk face-to-face with my customers and hear their feedback,” says Sussman.

The new space, formerly occupied by Bahr and Co, is bright and cheery, dominated by a rainbow mural painted by Jaime La Jones. Customers can see right into the kitchen to witness the baking in action, as well as spy the hot pink industrial mixer affectionately named Rosey. “I definitely needed more space, more equipment, and more help,” says Sussman. She now has one full-time and one part-time employee. Her husband Adam and kids help out as well.

“Everyone is hands on, because sometimes you just need more hands,” she says.

Sussman is completely self-taught, but you would never suspect that by looking at her stunningly beautiful cakes. While her cakes have a wow factor, Sussman says her specialty is her babkas. Contrary to the infamous Seinfeld episode in which Elaine touts the superiority of the chocolate babka, Sussman believes her cinnamon version is not a lesser babka, but the best babka. “It’s like a delicious cinnamon bun,” she says.

She also makes specialty and signature cupcakes and cookies. Seasonal items, such as sufganiyot during Hanukkah, are available during the holidays.

Sussman hopes to continue to expand her business. “I love to

bake, and I bake what I love to eat,” she says. The bakery is open for retail sales Wednesday to Friday 10-5 and Saturdays 9-3. They are also open Mondays and Tuesdays for pre-order pick up, which can be placed through her website or by phone 917-301-3691. You can also follow her on Instagram @staceystotallybaked to keep up with her latest offerings.

Woodcock Offers Family Fun

Woodcock Nature Center’s Frothy Forage event returns April 29th and prospective attendees would be wise to purchase tickets early! An event for the entire family (furry ones too!), Frothy Forage is a one-of-a-kind trek through Woodcock’s picturesque woods and wetlands with beer and soda sampling at stops along the way. The sell-out event has become a staple among Woodcock’s many popular outdoor activities which take place on the nature center’s 150-acre preserve spanning Wilton and Ridgefield.

Foragers will be delighted along a 60-minute trek by everything from animal encounters, treasure hunts and nature activities to tastings of craft brews and sodas from local vendors including long-time partner Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield. Furry family members will enjoy goodies along the way too thanks to Ridgefield Pet and, when the hike is complete, families and friends can relax near the pond enjoying live music in the pavilion, Woodcock’s famous natural playground and food for purchase from an on-site food truck - last year’s Genoa Wood Fired Pizza Truck was a huge hit!

All proceeds from this unforgettable event benefit environmental education programs at Woodcock Nature Center, a non-profit organization since 1972. The event draws over 350 guests of all ages throughout the day. Additional event partners have included Fairfield County Bank, Hosmer Mountain Beverages, Boxed Water, Outdoor Sports Center, Uncle Leo’s Donuts, Owls’ Brew, Izze Sparkling Soda, and Wilton Go Green.

21+ admission is $55 and includes a souvenir tasting glass plus snacks and goodies from sponsors along with beer and soda sampling. Spectators, designated drivers and kids 3 and up are $25 and welcome to enjoy all the non-alcoholic offerings, snacks and on-site activities. Leashed dogs are encouraged. Due to parking constraints, advanced purchase of timed tickets is required and available on the Woodcock website, woodcocknaturecenter.org. A rain date is set for April 30th. •

The various sensory stations at 2 Blue Hens allow young children to explore art as a creative process. Voulgaris and Raymond want parents to feel empowered to use sensory play as another way to connect with their children.

Anything but a paintbrush

by Julia Bruce

There’s an old proverb that says, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” For Rosie Snow Voulgaris and Liz Raymond, co-founders of 2 Blue Hens, this couldn’t be more accurate. When the pandemic moved schooling online, services for special education students also went virtual. Voulgaris, whose son has special needs, found online therapy for a toddler to be completely ineffective, so she created something herself. She was intrigued by the concept of sensory play and how it could impact students with developmental disabilities. Voulgaris discovered that sensory play improved her son’s fine and gross motor skills, added to his speech development and helped him regulate his body.

“As a family, it was quite life-changing,” says Voulgaris.

Emboldened by this initial success, Voulgaris, who was living in Virginia at the time, launched her own outdoor sensory play art classes. “It was a safe way to engage kids during a time when there wasn’t a lot of that available,” says Voulgaris.

In 2021, Voulgaris and her family moved to Ridgefield and her realtor connected her with Liz Raymond. The two had an instant connection. Both women, mothers to six children between them, have artistic backgrounds. Additionally, both attended the University of Delaware, whose mascot is the fighting blue hen.

They collaborated and launched 2 Blue Hens, initially offering classes in their homes. By the summer of 2022, they were looking for an indoor space and they opened the art room on 80 Grove Street. “I’ve always dreamed of opening an art studio. We live in this town that values and celebrates the arts, but there wasn’t much available for the younger set, to allow them to explore the creative process” says Raymond.

The studio consists of two rooms – one which is dominated by a fun, colorful mural and

the other overlooks a babbling brook. “We love this space because the sound of the water is so calming,” says Voulgaris. They currently offer about 20 classes per week, as well as monthly family sessions and weekend birthday parties, serving students ages 1 – 10. “We want kids of all abilities to join any class, but we also offer sensory friendly classes for students that need a smaller class size with less stimulation,” says Voulgaris. While many students are from Ridgefield, some come from as far as Westchester. “There really isn’t any other art studio like ours

The unique format of their classes emphasizes an openended and child-led approach. “Our focus is help children express themselves artistically rather than developing technical skills,” says Raymond. Classes for younger children offer up to six different multi-sensory stations, such as a dry sensory bin, a collaborative project, or a messy sensory station. Older children learn to use a wide variety of art materials in nontraditional ways that are meaningful to them. “We want to show parents that this is a new way to interact and play with their children,” says Voulgaris.

Recently, 2 Blue Hens hosted a gallery opening and auction at the RPAC Art Gallery. Featured was artwork created by 1 to 4-year-old students over a six-week period. Each class of had their own canvas and created a stunning art piece “These large canvases were created using anything but a paintbrush. They threw paint covered balls, smacked watercolor soaked sponges and even sat and scooted across the canvas,” says Voulgaris. Proceeds were donated to Ridgefield’s special education RISE program to purchase materials.

For more information, please visit 2bluehens.com •

Encourage and

Preserve Art

by Dee Dee Colabella

The MFAA (Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program), which is most often referred to as the Monuments Men, was a group of artists, sculptors, architects, museum curators, and other nonmilitary professions recruited by the Allied Forces in WWII to help protect and recover stolen artifacts from destruction during the war.

Hitler was obsessed with art and began systematically stealing artifacts, paintings, gold, anything of value from the European and the Jewish families he sought to eliminate. Part of his plan was to start a museum complex in Austria after the end of the war.

Francis Henry Taylor, Curator of the Museum of Modern Art at the time, relentlessly requested that President Franklin D. Roosevelt do something to stop the eradication of these treasures and monuments. Roosevelt responded by creating the MFAA, which later became the Monuments Men. When it became apparent that Germany would lose the war, Hitler decided to destroy what he had stolen.

A team saved artworks such as Michelangelo’s Bruges Madonna; Vermeer’s The Artist’s Studio; and Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece. One of these men, Frederick Charles Shrady, settled in Easton, CT after the war. Shrady and the other Monuments Men evacuated these great works of art, along with over 15,000 other art pieces and cultural objects, from the Altausee Salt Mine in Austria.

Shrady’s fame lasted long past the war - he became a local 068 celebrity as an artist and sculptor. Shrady created “Our Lady of Fatima,” a ten-foot-high bronze statue which was commissioned by the Vatican. She found her home in the gardens of the Vatican in 1983.

Shrady and the other men and woman who served as a part of the MFAA were not trained as soldiers, yet they risked their lives to save the artwork that Hitler sought to destroy.

The whole world will then have the right to look to us, with grateful eyes; but we will fail unless we consciously appreciate the value of the art in our lives and take practical steps to encourage the artist and preserve his works. In no walk of life can man fail to find richer experience as he falls under the influence of beauty immortalized by inspired genius.

Frederick Charles Shrady in his studio.

The team examining the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck.

Monuments Men saved important works of art from being destroyed by Hitler.

Taken from notes for use at a luncheon given by the Metropolitan Art Museum in New York, April 2, 1946 (after the war ended), stamped the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, speaking about the contributions of the Monuments Men.

Recovered artwork being transported to safety.

How it works

Starting on March 1st, you can vote for your favorite local businesses in our readership area of Ridgefield, Wilton, and Redding. You’ll get to vote on several categories like best burger, best pizza, best boutique, best salon, and many more.

All respondents will be entered to win gift cards compliments of 068 Magazine and inRidgefield.

Orbs and ribbons of light play across a large canvas, composed of layers upon layers of oil paint. This ethereal and complex style is typical of the artist, who is working on an elaborate exhibition of 12 large paintings that relate to one another in a unique way.

from the Cooper Union with distinction in 1985 as a painting major and soon began a career in art restoration. After many decades of in-painting the missing and damaged areas of thousands of paintings, he had to resolve many technical challenges, and in so doing, synthesized this experience into the development of his

own style.

Gulbrandsen, a recipient of the ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative grant, has been expanding this large collection after a successful show at D.Colabella Fine Arts on Main Street in Ridgefield in 2022. To see more of his work, go to dcolabellafineart.com/charles-gulbrandsen

Charles Gulbrandsen graduated

Painting in progress by Charles Gulbrandsen, 48x60, oil on canvas